#Not quite aya but bless you for trying

[kazuko-stuff]

First Meetings Pt 2 : Exploring the world

Summary: After an accident in a mission that led you an encounter with Gojo Satoru, he shows you around Tokyo opposed to taking you back to Kyoto instantly.

Pt 1

You don’t remember how you got to your current destination but all you remember is being ambushed by the target. “Where am I?” As who questioned your surroundings. When you fully awaken, you notice that you are in some infirmary and a guy with white hair and sunglasses.

“ Oh, um, yeah… you're at a school infirmary. You got really hurt the other day when I found you, so I carried you here.” As the guy explained as he got up.

“No need to worry I’m not a bad guy” he added on

You look at him and notice that he looks familiar. “ Gojo Satoru, I am also a jujutsu sorcerer fighting off evil curses” he introduces himself in a flamboyant manner.

Now you know why he looks familiar. The man right there is already deemed the strongest and blessed by the heavens due to his eyes. You remember meeting him as a child and he was quite intimidating but you wonder if this was the same guy as the young boy from many years ago, as the man in front of you seems to be more playful and some sort of a goofball.

“Oh, you must be hungry right, wanna try some instant ramen. Just warm it up myself.” he handed you the instant noodles along with chopsticks.

“Thank you, Satoru- sama” you take the bowl of noodles and chopsticks from him.

You tentatively start eating the noodles despite being salty and hot , you still finish it nevertheless, it’s better than nothing.

“ Well she really trusts me and doesn’t seem to be picky. Even I have trouble eating that.” he thinks to himself as he isn’t used to instant noodles much like his peers.

“ Yeah, just call me Satoru. Who are you anyway? What happened the other day, you just fell out of the sky you know?” he reminds you of why you're here in the first place. He already knew you were there but strangely he felt the urge to not want to scare you. Maybe he feels some pity for your situation as you were in a place that you don’t know or maybe it’s….

“Oh, I am sorry, I should have given my name earlier. I am Y/n. The other day, I was on a mission to escort a cursed tool. I couldn’t say much about it due to it being a very important one…” only for you to remember Suki and Aya.

“By the way, have you seen my two other friends, Aya and Suki? They were also assigned in this mission as well.” You asked in sudden worry of your two friends.

“ I didn’t sense any other cursed energy other than yours. That’s how I notice you falling from the sky.” He explains

“ Aya, Suki, I hope both of you are alright” as you think of your teammates. The man who fought you and your friends was extremely wanted by the jujutsu society. You can only pray that they got out of there in time.

“ Alright, you don’t have to tell me anything. Besides you should focus on recovery and besides this is the Tokyo branch. So no need to worry.” He turns to you.

“But I can’t. I still have to go back to Kyoto” you attempt to refuse.

“So you're the type who puts the mission above your own life. It sounds like your WEAK.” he rubs his head and his eyes narrow down to you as you gulp.

“Sheesh, I hate it when people do that” he quickly turns around as he rubs the back of his head.

Is this the heir to the Gojo clan? Not taking missions that serious. You heard rumors of him being a brash, arrogant man causing you to believe he doesn’t care for innocent civilians in harm's way. While you were irked by him calling you weak, you were more annoyed that he doesn’t seem to care about the destruction from cursed spirits.

“Excuse me” , you widen your eyes in confusion and irritation from his brash comment.

“Come on, change of plans. What if I ask Yaga to take you back to Kyoto? As he comes closer to you with a shit eating grin on his face.

“ I don’t want to cause you more trouble, Satoru” you argued back but Satoru with his signature smirk came close to your face, “ How can you get back to Kyoto? Do you know any transportation? I bet you don't have any money as of now” he taunted.

“ Don’t worry, it’s considered part of the job as a jujutsu sorcerer to have escort missions” he continued as he bows like some sort of medieval gentleman.

As much as you are bothered that he was purposely slowing you down, he has a point. While you have some emergency money in a crisis like this, you don’t know your way around Tokyo as well as transportation. So you accept defeat for him to take you back to Kyoto.

———

Likewise, Yaga reluctantly allowed Satoru to escort you back to Kyoto, even wondering if this was a good idea, knowing Satoru isn’t a type to take escort missions seriously.

However, you had to wear civilian clothing and you never wore a civvy dress before since you were only allowed to wear kimonos, thus it felt like you were naked. You then meet up with Satoru in the hallway.

As Satoru looks at you with his signature sunglasses on as you meet up with him, he suddenly blushes at the outfit you wore.

“I look weird, don’t I” feeling self conscious as you put your fingers together as you look at your shoes.

“N..ooo you look really fine, let’s go since the travel will be quite long” he stammered all of the sudden as the two of you headed to his bike in order to get public transportation.

This is your first time riding a bike and to be honest, you were quite anxious.

“Scared” Satoru smirks at your bewildered face. “No this is my first time riding one” you answered back.

“Don’t worry, just hold on to me and things will be fine” as he throws you a helmet.

As the two of you get on the bike, he suddenly pedals fast causing you to instantly hold onto his waist for dear life.

“Here… we…go !” He yells as the two of you go to the city place.

“You could have given me time” you huffed due to the sudden adrenaline rushing in but that feeling subsides as you notice how the area is quite busy.

“Wow, Toru! Just look at this town!” As you look at the people just enjoying their everyday lives.

“I never been to busy towns like this before” you admit as you remember the sheltered life you have. You then notice an animal on a sign.

“ Toru, did you see that cute orange animal? Do you think they sell that dinosaur at that place ?” You asked.

“Erm, that’s an agumon from a game series called Digimon. They usually have stew, burgers and parfaits” he explains as he suddenly stops as he realizes how extremely sheltered you are towards the outside world due to the elders butting in.

A sad giggle escapes from your mouth as the two of you get off the bike.” That’s so funny. You know, I never left the main compound on my own. I wasn’t allowed to by the elders. Most of my missions were either destroyed or mostly the country life. If it's mission related, I only allowed to go to the school in Kyoto and approved establishments” while you stared to the open space as your once childlike wish came up to the surface.

“ I got an idea, why don’t we just explore for the day and I can take you around…” Satoru offers but you reject it once more in sadness.

“ I can’t Toru since I’m still considered on a mission and I must report asap” noticing how weak your excuse is.

Satoru looks at you behind and starts looking back at his childhood. “She is like a caged little bird…Who’s never got a chance to even explore the outside world” then an idea comes into mind. “Guess I have to play a pro gamer move, cause it’s time to spread your wings to soar into freedom y/n” as he uses a bit of cursed energy to make believable damage on the bike causing you to turn to the sound.

“ Yikes, must have pressed too hard on the brake and ran into a pebble. I gotta have to leave this at a repair shop. Hope it will be fixed soon within tomorrow…” as he rubs his head.

“It’s alright Toru. I’m sorry about your bike” understanding the situation unaware he did it on purpose. “Yeah we must delay getting to our spot for a while but why don’t we explore for today. See anything you want ? He asked as the two of you took the bike to the repair shop.

——-

The bike shop says the repair would take a while much to Satoru’s delight knowing you get a chance to explore as well a date with him.

The two saw a crepe vendor across the street and he bought some for the two of you. You took a bite of the crepe and smiled at how delicious it was.

“Good isn’t it” he said as he took a bite of his own. “When it comes to sweets, I know which place to go,” he bragged as he took another bite.

You hummed back at him in bliss as he held his hand to you and you shyly placed yours in his.

“Any place you like, I’ll take you there at once” he asked as he smiled at the smile on your face when you were given a chance to explore for once.

“ Thank you so much, Toru. Actually there are a few places I want to visit” remembering the few places you saw when the two of you went bye. Satoru feels his ears turning red at the sudden nickname you just made for him.

The first place was a book shop, much to Satoru’s hidden dismay but didn’t complain not wanting to ruin your chance of freedom. You picked up some literature and started reading a few pages while he was reading some digimon manga he found.

Next, the two of you went window shopping at some boutique and noticed you eyeing on a fancy dress that you like. God how you would look beautiful in that dress and even offer to buy it for you but you reject it not wanting to burden him. But what you didn’t know was that he would secretly buy you the dress as a gift.

The two of you then stop to look at the plants along with a local tabby cat that usually hangs out there.

The two of you then rest on a bench as you look at the vibrant city around you. “Thank you for showing me around these places. I would have never seen how vibrant and colorful the world is” as you still look around as if you make sure you have it in memory.

“ Yeah, Yeah, I know these places are nice and all but the real fun is about to start now” he gives his cocky skirt as he leans back.

“What do you mean?” you look at him in wonder.

The two of you head to a local arcade where he hangs out with Suguru and Shoko once in a while when there is no mission or boring homework to do. You then notice the owner as she sweeps the floor of the arcade.

“Oh Satoru, there you are, it's been a while since you came here with your buddies” the granny smiles and notices you.

“Dear me, didn’t notice you have a girlfriend already” as the granny takes a closer look at you causing you to feel shy. “ I like her” she teases him.

“ Well, she is a new student at my school and is new around town. I am just showing her around” as he tilts his head. “Come on, just get inside y/n” you follow him through the arcade.

———

Satoru then introduces you to a fighter game. He puts a token inside and shows you how to play the game. Your eyes widen with excitement on seeing how fun it is.

“Fun isn’t it. Good for a warm up, since I don’t want my skills to be rusty. Often has my name at the scoreboard” he brags.

“ Can I have a try ?” You ask eagerly as your eyes widen with eagerness to play.

“ Of course, here’s a token. Although you may lose due to how tricky the mechanics are..” he smirks but he wished he would take it back as in your first play through, you managed to beat the cpu much to his shock.

“Yeah I won” you jump in happiness as he just looks at the screen in shock.

“Time to show what to strongest can do” he smirks at himself

“You're really good” Satoru compliments you when you turn your head towards him.

“But there are more games out there, wanna try a few matches against me?” He asks

You give him a big smile, “of course”.

———

You managed to beat him the games throughout the arcade, much to his embarrassment due to you not playing any games before. Must have hurt his ego a bit but at the same time he is happy he gets to spend time with you.

The last game is a guessing game with a digimon head. The granny explains if the answer is wrong, it will bite your hand off. “This sounds dangerous” looking at Toru.

“Granny, stop scaring her. It’s just a game and y/n, I’m the strongest, so you don’t have to worry about anything” he winks while you tentatively look at him, putting his hand in mouth.

The game asks him a literature question based on a Japanese tale, as never was interested in the story, he never got to read it as he ends up giving a wrong answer causing the teeth to appear but you instantly pushed him down much to his shock.

“CAREFUL TORU” as you pinned him on the ground by accident as you stayed vigilant at the head.

“Girl, no need to be scared. This is a children’s game and the ‘teeth’ is just foam” the granny explained, causing you to understand what's going on only to realize the compromising position that you and Toru are in. The two of you looked at each other and blushed.

———

It was already sunset when you just got out of the arcade. You notice some small items in some capsule and Toru explains it’s a gashapon. Toru puts in some leftover tokens and a capsule comes out.

He hands it to you and you open it. It was a little agumon figure. “Gashapon has several random figures and you can collect them” he explains as you look at the little figure. You place the little agumon figure in your pocket.

“The night still is young you know” when the two of you stop by a simple restaurant. “This place has good dinner here” As he hands you a plate of hamburger steak on the table. You took a bite and smiled at the taste.

“Woah, this tastes better than it looks” you continued to finish your meal.

“I know right. The best part is how the chef balances out the sweetness and savory within the tomato sauce” he smiles when he sits down on the table

“I just realized I never had a meal with so much warmth in it. This is really good” you smiled only to realize this won’t last forever. “This has to be the best day in my life and the arcade is really fun. I’ll treasure these precious memories we made” not realizing there is a crumb on the corner of your lips.

Satoru notices and playfully removes it while thinking that you will be locked up once more when you get back but he makes sure that won’t happen. He then looks at his watch and realizes something. “ You know I can take you to other places” Satoru offers playfully.

You wanted to accept but you knew that couldn’t happen. “They wouldn’t allow it” you muttered dejectedly with a sullen look on your face.

“Yeah I know about the higher ups and elders. They can be a pain in the ass but you deserve R&R every now and then.

The elders attempted to lock me up in a stupid house but screw them, that just gave me experience to hone up my skills” Satoru tells you as he leans his hands on his head.

“Sometimes I was given missions to other places after I came to Tokyo. The world is a big and exciting place, I couldn’t stand being locked up in the main place for the rest of my life and to be honest, it’ll be shameful to miss the world itself” as he raise his hand to the moon while he looked back in his past.

“ The games you played today will soon be surpassed by new tech and getting better graphics and updated gameplay. Have you heard of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, it’s an adventure stealth video game, with amazing graphics.” Getting excited for a new game coming up.

“ I‘ll take you to tropical paradises in the pacific and even the historical buildings in Europe if you want” he offered as he held his hand to you, while looking at him with wonder at that thought.

You almost accept his hand but only to remember the ritual you agreed to take on for the future of the jujutsu society, despite knowing how it will affect your body and how Utahime tried to dissuade you from going through it, causing you to space out.

“ Y/n, are you okay, you just spaced out” Satoru looks at you in worry.

“No Toru, I’m afraid I can’t go with you!” Clutching your heart, believing it is one of the side effects of the ritual but it seems to be more. “What is this feeling in my heart” you thought as your heart started pumping fast.

“Shit, didn’t notice but we should get going to the movie theater, I want to show you a movie I think you would like” he grabs your hand to the local movie theater.

[cessatiio]

badly disguised aya voice: you've overstuffed a holepunch and broken it (that's what not safe for work means right--)

“No, but I’ve broken a few staplers.” 

[nightingaletrash]

Hey! Can I ask you Doggo, Brother and Sweetheart from the Fable 3 ask? Thank you! I really love these :)

Thank you!! I answered Doggo and Brother already, so I’ll copy-paste those below the cut so you don’t have to dig for them ^^

--

In my personal canon, Elliot and Elise both exist and are twins. They were orphaned at a young age and taken on by Aya as wards, and so they were raised alongside Lorna as her closest friends. And both their lives were on the line in the throne room.

As they were her best friends, Lorna just couldn’t bring herself to sentence them both to death. Logan literally reached ‘one’ in his countdown when she panicked and made the split second decision for the protesters to be executed, a choice that has haunted her ever since. It’s what motivates her to be better, to live up to her ideals of what a Hero should be, and to never be so weak again.

After they managed to escape the castle themselves, the twins ended up in Bowerstone Industrial, trying to find some absolution for having survived the throne room and they began to work with Lazlo at the shelter. Elliot ended up falling for him, thanks to his now very complicated feelings towards Lorna, and they ended up engaged. So when Lorna showed up to rescue them from Ferret, nearly a year after the events of the throne room, it was a little awkward.

Ultimately Lorna and Elliot didn’t rekindle their relationship - they’d both changed too much, they’d moved on with their lives, and Lazlo was simply a better match in the end. It wouldn’t be fair to come between them, so Lorna wished them well.

But Elise wasn’t quite so ready to move on with her life. She’d always been the more fiery of the pair, despite playing the part of the gentle, delicate lady, and she wanted to help stop Logan however she could. As far as she was concerned, he was the one responsible for what happened in the throne room, not Lorna. She all but begged to be allowed to be part of the revolution, so Lorna brought her to the Bowerstone Resistance. She coordinated with Page, providing everything she knew about Albion’s nobles and the castle’s secret passageways that she, her brother and Lorna had discovered as children. Anything that could give the revolution an edge in the battles to come.

Elliot and Lazlo focused on keeping the people of Bowerstone alive and cared for, while Elise and Page focused on giving them a future to believe in.

--

Logan and Lorna were super close growing up despite the eight year age gap. Wherever Logan went, Lorna wasn’t usually far behind, and he was always willing to indulge his little sister when she wanted to play with him. If she had a bad dream or something spooked her, he was the first port of call and he always did his best to be there for her.

Things changed when Sparrow passed away and Logan became King, because he was so busy running Albion, and Lorna found herself having to rely on other people over her big brother. He did try to make time for his sister, but it was hard, bless him. The work-life balance didn’t come to him as easily as it did Sparrow, and he didn’t always have the energy to keep up with his sister.

When he planned to go to Aurora, Lorna was furious and spent her time either trying to convince him to stay or just giving him the cold shoulder. So to try and make it up to her, and to give her a companion she could always count on being there without fail, Logan started making some inquiries into getting her a puppy so that she might feel less lonely.

When he returned there was a very stark shift in their relationship. While he tried to keep up appearances and tried to be the same big brother he’d always been, he just couldn’t. He needed to protect his sister no matter what, and so he eventually began to hold her at arm’s length, kept her safely cloistered in the castle and worked tirelessly to try and prepare Albion for the Crawler. For a long time, Lorna made excuses for him and his behaviour. Walter told her just enough about what he knew to have happened - that he’d lost every soldier who had accompanied him - and that he was responding to that trauma, so she tried not to take things too personally. But the first time he lost his temper with her marked their relationship and she realised that maybe he’d changed forever.

She genuinely believed she could talk to him though, on the day of the protest. She thought she could get through to him and see that what he was doing was wrong. It was a huge shock when she realised that she didn’t know him anymore, and she knew she had to do something about it. She couldn’t ignore what he’d become anymore.

And then she goes to Aurora, fights through the Darkness, nearly loses herself and Walter to it, only to survive and learn that Logan had gone through the same thing, except he’d emerged from the experience alone. He’d lost everyone. And she realises then why he’d changed, because she feels changed herself. The question she still has is why he’d made the choices he had, and why he’d done such awful things to their own people. And she decides she’s doing to get that answer, one way or another.

Ultimately she did spare Logan. In part because of his own experience as king and with the Darkness - he’s fought and survived it, they’re going to need him - but because he’s her brother. She had always known there was a real possibility that she might have to order his execution, she even spent a long time trying not to think of him as her brother so that she’d be able to do just that, but in the end she can’t do it. And she knows it’s wrong. Because no matter how justified his execution his might be, it just sets her to walk the same path as him. If she executes him, she could one day justify the executions of civilians just as he had.

So she spares him, adds him to her war council, and appoints him as an Advisor because she needs his insight and experience. It’s a few months before they’re able to move beyond professionalism, but as they finally begin to open up about the things in their heads and the things they’ve been through, they begin to mend their bridges and the wounds begin to heal. After Walter’s death, Logan is appointed to the position of Royal Advisor, and they work together to try and restore Albion as their mother would have wished to see it.

–

As mentioned above, Lorna’s dog was a gift from Logan before he departed for Aurora. He’d reached out to several breeders in Albion - he looked for border collies specifically because he believed they’d have the energy to keep up with Lorna - and found one in Brightwall who had a new litter of puppies that were looking for homes once they were old enough.

He was able to procure Lorna the pick of the litter, and when the pups were ready to leave their mother, he took her to Brightwall under the pretense of having a surprise for her. She was still sulking about him going away and thought that he was just making a trip to the Academy so she could pick out some books or something, so you can imagine the sheer delight when she was introduced to the litter and told that she could pick whichever puppy she liked.

She named her puppy Lexel after a character in a book she’d been reading, and they became the very best of friends. Jasper did try to have a ‘no dogs on furniture’ rule, but found himself swiftly overruled because of course he was, and Lorna brought Lexel with her everywhere. She learned to train him herself using some books from the library and with a bit of help from Walter, and she was able to teach him to search for buried things like her mother’s dog. Combat training came along a little later, which Walter insisted on as a precaution.

All in all, Lexel is a very good boy.

[munimuni-muna]

Heya! Could I get a reading? My name is Anthony and I’m a virgo :). I’m also a JJBA fan! Thank you!!

Hi Anthony! Thanks for the ask🥰 I see that there is no specific question. So instead of a general read, I have taken the freedom to choose a question for you if you don't mind😁. So I asked the cards what your good traits are and how you could improve them. I just thought a little bit of getting to know yourself might help you in your life's journey. But if you have a more specific question, I'm just an ask away anyway. Here's your read😄:

From the top left we have Rohan then Diego. And under Rohan is Aya then Foo Fighters.

The first row is your good traits while the second is how you can improve them. Rohan here says that you are not the type to give up. To you, if there's a will, there's a way. You make sure to do things for the best possible outcome. And you don't make excuses.

Because of this mindset, you've developed a calculating mind. Diego says here that you are very strategic and concise. You don't let a situation get to you and try to maintain as calm a mind as possible. It is your weapon of choice.

When Aya's card flipped, I immediately thought 'escape rooms'. And I am very much drawn to the word written on her card 'Escape'. It's actually weirdly specific, but I see 'exercising the mind by playing startegic kinds of games'. I mean, I don't know if you play these types of games (or if you even play at all), but they are suggested by Spirit to improve your calculations and your intuition because you have quite a good set of those in you. And Foo Fighters here ultimately represents the many kinds of activities you can do to enhace your stategic mind (like the aforementioned games and escape rooms).

That's all I have for you, Anthony! It's not everyday I get specific hits like that, but I hope it helps you in better understanding yourself even just a little.😄 Love lots and blessed be ♥️♥️♥️🌟🌟🌟

[talesfromthegameff14]

When you aren’t looking

[CW: Smut, pure indulgence, BDSM themes, power exchange, control, and messy, nasty sex. ]

Aya moved quietly to the corner of the bookcase, staying on his side of the corner unseen.  Pausing, he tipped his head upon hearing a familiar, wet sound that was steadily increasing in pace.  A predatory smile crossed his lips, the Xaela didn’t have to look around the corner to know what C’tolemy was doing just out of view.  It was common enough that this had become a game over the time the two lived together.  ‘Catch me if you can’, if you would. 

Today? Aya did just that.

Patiently like the hunter he was, Aya waited for the rhythm of the sounds to turn almost frantic, C’tolemy’s breath hitching, panting, that bitten back mewl of bliss the clue Aya was waiting for.  Quietly but firm, the command came from ‘nowhere’, from C’tolemy’s point of view at least.   “Stop Kitten, your pleasure is mine tonight.” 

A gasp of surprise and all noise ceased except for a low whine of protest, someone was so close to their peak that to stop was almost painful. 

The silence lingered until C’tolemy’s breath slowed sufficiently for Aya to know that the Seeker wasn’t teetering on the edge of orgasm any longer. 

“Fuck yourself, one finger only.” 

No words were required on the miqo’te’s part, the bob of his head unseen as he complied, sliding one finger within his slick depths.  C’tolemy’s tail curled and coiled about him, the man squirming as the sensation was pleasant but no more than that.

Waiting to ensure that his mate’s breathing hadn’t changed, Aya starts to speak, his voice a husky murmur that barely reached the keen ears of the Seeker around the corner.  “It’s not enough, is it?  Not nearly enough for my little cum slut to be satisfied with.  Imagine it is my tail instead of your single, slim finger.  Imagine how it would fill you, forcing you wider than is comfortable, both smooth and rough at the same time while it wiggles and thrusts within.  It’s agony and ecstasy is it not?  Drenched in your slick it almost moves smoothly, except when scales catch and tug at your flesh.” 

Cruel, that his Xaela was a cruel, cruel master was the last rational thought C’tolemy had.  The smaller man was doing his best to be quiet, unnoticed.  It was part of the game after all, find a corner while everyone was sleeping at night and see what he could manage without being caught.  Every word was a caress on too hot skin, sending spikes of pleasure soaring through his blood.  He can almost imagine that he’s being fucked by his mate’s tail, almost.  Again, that one finger is a damnable tease and no more.

It’s a problem Aya, even hidden around the corner, is very well aware of.  “Tighten down around your finger pet.” 

C’tolemy already was, but at the order he did so further and it only made the difference between reality and fantasy all that much sharper. Compared to his imagination the grip of his cunt around his slim finger left him feeling close to empty.  A greedy gasp followed his compliance, paired with a heavy thump of his tail against the wooden floor. 

“Need more still?  Good.”, that damnable low chuckle followed the words, satisfied and a little mean. “Two fingers now, no three.  I’ll be kind to my little kitten tonight, let him try to find satisfaction without me inside of him.” 

“Ssseevvyyaaaaaa”, is the gasped out word that finally breaks C’tolemy’s self imposed silence, spoken out loud when he thrusts three fingers deep between his lust soaked lips.  The Seeker knows what he yearns for, but he can’t quite reach, not like this.  A sound between a sob and a moan, pitiful and pleading, isn’t so loud that it drowns out the sloppy, squelching noises of the desperate finger fucking he’s giving himself. 

Aya smiles, a flash of fang that is nothing but predatory and vicious, enjoying the symphony of desire that he’s being treated to sight unseen.  He doesn’t have to watch to imagine the flush that spreads across his mate's skin, how his expressions change in the flash of an eye while the miqo’te bucks and squirms against his own hand, half maddened with need.  The scent of passion, carnal and musky fills the small area by the books, adding another sensual layer to the exchange between the two men. 

In short? Aya found it irresistible, cock straining against the pants the Xaela slipped on before going to hunt down his missing mate.   Hearing C’tolemy’s suffering ignited a slow burn through the Xaela’s veins that got stronger with every beat of his heart. 

Luxuriating in the moment, Aya quietly listened, knowing that C’tolemy wouldn’t stop until he was told, wouldn’t find his bliss without permission once the gambit had been cast.  He shifted so that he was leaning against the wall, head tilted back and eyes closed so that nothing distracted from the musical performance just a few fulms away.  It was reaching it’s crescendo, the noises now close to what they were when Aya first took control away from his mate.  Lazily, the Xaela caressed his sex over his pants, a hiss of pleasure just loud enough to be heard by the man around the corner, another bit of torment for the already struggling miqo’te.

Again, the damnable words come.  “Stop, now.” 

A wretched sob escapes C’tolemy’s lips, it felt like lightning was dancing along his skin, the sensation not abating at all despite the miqo’te’s compliance.  The Xaela’s timing was perfect as always, just a stroke or two away from his control snapping in two under the unrelenting urgency to cum.  It was a blessing and a curse, teetering on the brink like he was. 

“On your knees, hands on your thighs.” 

On his.. Aya wanted him to move?  Somehow the Seeker managed, whimpering and twitching with every moment, having to swallow a shout from the sensation of pulling his fingers out from between his soaked folds.  Dazed and disoriented, C’tolemy sways a bit on his knees, tail moving in counterpoint to keep him, mostly, in place. 

Quiet as a shadow, Aya paces around the corner, stopping less than a fulm away from his kneeling mate.  “Look at me, slut.” 

There was no missing the presence of the Xaela standing before him, C’tolemy’s body swaying forward even before Aya spoke.  Shuddering from the Xaela’s words, he lifts sex glazed eyes upwards, looking at his mate and master through long, dusky eyelashes.  “S-s-sevya?”

It’s just in time for C’tolemy to watch Aya free his swollen cock from his pants, the head smeared with a bit of pre.  It’s clear evidence that the taller man was very much interested in this play, if the gleam in his eyes and half smirk on his lips didn’t give that away.  “Do you want a reward?  Do you want me to shove this down your throat while you guzzle my cum?  Fuck your face so hard that you choke, until it feels like your drowning under my hands? Will that make my raunchy little whore happy?” 

There was no hesitation, C’tolemy’s head bobbing in agreement even before Aya was done speaking.  “Yes, Sevya, please!” 

“Then be my good little kitten and cum now.”

Words? Words shouldn’t be enough to send the Seeker tumbling into an orgasm, even delightful ones crooned out in that husky baritone that C’tolemy has come to savor and adore.  But months of careful conditioning by the Xaela paired with standing on the knife’s edge of rapture was a more potent combination than the miqo’te bargained for.  His walls spasmed against themselves, sending a curl of electric heat that started in his abdomen and spread outwards in a unrelenting wave of agony tinged fervor that had every muscle tensing from head to toe.  It was confusing, some small part of him fighting the lust that overwhelmed him even as it left muscle and bone turned to jelly in the aftermath.  Words, words shouldn’t...

Then it didn’t matter, all that mattered to the Seeker was the hand in his hair, wrenching his head up and back, the other on his jaw forcing it open to receive the gift that his master had promised.  The first thrust of Aya’s ridged cock went right to the back of C’tolemy’s throat.   The Seeker jerked from the force behind the movement, caught up short from the threat of his hair separating from his scalp.  Feeling Aya pull his hips back slowly was a disorienting contrast to that first, brutal push.  Pop by audible pop each ridge passes back over the Seeker’s lips until C’tolemy’s mouth was left bereft, empty.

Pleading, tear-filled eyes tried to look upwards, only able to manage a glimpse of Aya’s chest and nothing more from how the Xaela held his head still.  C’tolemy was stuck there, waiting and needy, restrained from seeking out the promised reward by the firm grip in his hair. 

It was a bit of kindness, for all the torment, Aya letting C’tolemy gulp down enough air for the Seeker to think about talking.  Once those full lips parted to speak they were filled again, Aya’s hips bucking forward to hilt himself within his pet’s mouth.  “Such a hungry little slut, aren’t you kitten?”, the fondly spoken words already show a hint of strain, the foreplay had left Aya ravenous. 

A strangled moan is Aya’s only answer, and the only encouragement he requires to grind against the Seeker’s lips, bruising them with the force behind it.  Lazily, C’tolemy’s head is tugged back then forward, back then forward along the thick shaft in his mouth. The dirty, wet sounds of flesh sliding against flesh underscoring the rapid pace of Aya’s breath.  Abruptly, both hands tangled C’tolemy’s hair, holding the Seeker’s head in place instead of moving it.  Urgency drove Aya to rapidly thrust his aching cock between C’tolemy’s lips over and over and over.  It was with a single minded determination that Aya sought out his own pleasure, uncaring of how his mate writhed within his grip. 

Only the briefest of opportunities is given to the Seeker to catch a bit of breath, the relentless debasement of his mouth at his mate’s hand seemed to stretch out of proportion with time.  Minutes, seconds? They had little meaning when Aya was using C’tolemy like this, there was only the spine tingling satisfaction of being wanted, no, needed so badly that he could drive his mate to such lengths.  The intensity was such that the Seeker couldn’t stay still, the thumping of his heart in his chest matching the battering thrusts against his throat.  Tears streamed down his face as he choked and sobbed on Aya’s dick, the smaller man’s tail lashing around the two of them with a mind of its own. 

“I didn’t say that you could cum kitten.”, is growled out just as the fire in C’tolemy’s veins threatened to overwhelm him once more.  The pounding eased for a few seconds, though it was no gift this time.  Instead, the Xaela rocked his hips hard against C’tolemy’s mouth, the swollen crown forced hard against that deliciously sensitive spot within his mate’s throat.  Panic wells up within the smaller man, he couldn’t stop it, not with how Aya was tormenting him.  But, he had to be good!  He had to be...

Just as C’tolemy’s walls clenched, the slick dripping from his folds drenching the floor where he knelt, Aya drew his hips backwards much to the relief of his tortured mate.  It was sufficient to keep the miqo’te from disobeying the harsh command, holding onto sanity by the tips of his claws.  “You can cum when I do.”

The words barely register to the struggling, cock drunk man.  All that mattered was that his mouth was filled again, hunger satisfied even though every time he was impaled by his mate’s shaft it sent more cracks through his failing control.

“You’re a good little slut aren’t you?”, Aya gasped out encouragingly as his movements turned erratic, sex flexing within the grip of C’tolemy’s lips.  “A... little.. lon-longer, just a..ah...”  The Xaela’s jaw snapped shut, muffling the shout that replaced his words.   C’tolemy’s face was pulled tight to Aya’s groin as hot ropes of seed were shot into the smaller man’s throat.  Euphoria washed over the Xaela sending his muscles to trembling, knees turning to jelly, breath catching in his throat.  One hand went to his mate’s shoulder as he took a stumbling, half step forward to keep upright.  It forced his pulsing sex just a little bit deeper between the Seeker’s lips much to both men’s delight. 

Just as he was promised, C’tolemy was drowning. There was no breath, no sense of time, nothing but nerve searing delight as his body spasmed from the ecstasy that was consuming him whole.  Yet, that was nothing compared to the honeyed words that were rasped close to his ear, “So good, kitten. You were the best.”  Utterly satisfied, body and soul, the miqo’te drifted off into blessed nothingness.  He was good, nothing else mattered.

[C’tolemy belongs to @ala-mhinyan]

[fuwafuwamedb]

The Matchmaker Pt 3 (Siduri, Ishtar, Gilgamesh, Hakuno)

“Ishtar!”

The woman looked up, surprised at the guest that stalked her temple walls.

It was unusual for someone like the king’s advisor to be visiting her. It was unusual for anyone from the king’s palace to visit her, to be quite honest. None of them were respectful. None of them held the patience nor the manners to entertain her. The more they spoke to her, the less she liked them.

But, here was the little useless whelp that the king had saved from Ur, wandering into her halls and looked up at her with such determination in her eyes.

How dull.

“Ishtar! Great goddess of Uruk,” the assistant greeted, bowing. “I come to beseech your blessing on a union of someone dear to me.”

Oh Utu and his great barge, if she could hound her twin for one thing more; the woman was going to be asking her to make her be loved.

No amount of power can make someone love a paperwork pushing mongrel, Ishtar thought.

“I want to help two people connect.”

Utu, father, and above, Ishtar groaned mentally.

“Please, dear goddess.” The assistant went to her knees. “Grant me a favor. Neither of them are devoted at all to you. Neither of them believe in your capabilities and strength. Let me show them what the great goddess, Ishtar, is capable of committing. Allow me the opportunity to make their hearts swell and their minds and bodies yearn like that of Utu with Aya.”

She actually hated Aya.

The stupid woman was devoted to her twin to such lengths that she would slaughter those who came to their doorstep to disrupt her time with the man. No one dared speak with her brother after the sun set and his barge returned home. None dared to encroach upon Aya’s good graces.

The woman was a heathen and there was nothing anyone could do to stop her.

Still, someone doubting her power?

“Tell me of them.”

“The woman works in an area where love would make sense. She has patient hands and a gentle heart. However, her family has passed and her guardians merit her the freedoms of a man.”

She should have been brought forth sooner, Ishtar thought. The woman was in need of being cursed or thrown at the market.

“The man buries himself in his work. He labors greatly for others and he casts aside all notion of living for the opportunity for more work. When he abandons work, it is without warning and with great disregard to those around him. He creates chaos and will die soon.”

Ah, fun. She could piss off Ereshkigal.

The woman had it coming after making her strip to visit her.

Damn woman.

Ishtar exhaled loudly, pursing her lips as she stood up.

A favor.

Well, this was something that was actually a requirement of her station, but she wouldn’t let the assistant in on that little tidbit. She went to her fountain nearby and murmured the words softly as she scooped water into a jar.

She bound it tightly shut, handing it to the assistant.

“Take this and steal something of value from each of them. You must pour the waters over their valuables and then cast them into a flame. The waters will cleanse their hearts of their ignorant beliefs, and the fires will kindle the start to their mutual interest. From there, they will merely need the opportunity to meet.”

“You are a true goddess!” the woman exclaimed.

She was.

Ishtar brushed her hair over a shoulder and grinned. “Be careful, little human. The interest you will kindle between them will be more powerful than that of the gods. Their lives will be forever bound to one another. If they do not suit. If they fight in any manner now, it will be a curse upon them to do this.”

“They are perfect for each other!”

Well, they probably weren’t. The woman was no doubt going to ruin lives, but that was fine.

At least it would be entertaining.

Watching her run off, Ishtar ran a hand over the waters of her fountain and smiled.

“If it were not for Dumuzi, I would try with you, King Gilgamesh.”

Alas, her husband would always be in the way.

Six months.

Every year.

[gegenji]

Advent of an Amazing Aether-Administrating Apparatus!

RP Partner: @onehundredplumblossoms​ Date: 24 June 2020

Nenemo Nemo evaluates the Namazu, the exterior hull holding fast against the furious storm that rocked Gloam not long ago. The town is already starting to look more orderly, apart from the numerous windows under repair and waterlogged furniture in the street waiting to be broken down and replaced. For an independent community Gloam is relatively well off, due to the ceruleum, so it isn't damage they can't bounce back from. Continuous storms however, who could say. Nenemo Nemo: > For her part, Seseka seems satisfied that the submersible hasn't been severely compromised in any way, and only needs to send her mammets scurrying about the hull to check for anything out of the ordinary. Very little but cosmetic damage is found. She clutches a cigar between her fingers, running a hand through her shortened hair.

Chachanji Gegenji peered awkwardly into the warehouse, draped in an azure-hued rain slicker that was likely rather new - though perhaps not unwarranted given the weather he's had to deal with around Gloam in his past outings here. Seeing Seseka and her mammets inspecting the Namazu, he pushes his way in -  and into conversation with the older Lalafell - with awkward steps and equally awkward small-talk. "So... ah... h-how's th' Namazu lookin'? All th' gadgets still in one piece after th' storm?"

Nenemo Nemo: "Ah? Oh, yes yes, she's quite fine. Your construction was solid. Nothing but scratches so far. I can't perceive any damage to the propeller either." Nenemo Nemo puffs a small cloud of cigar smoke. Her recent infirmity doesn't seem to dissuade her any.

Chachanji Gegenji: "Tha's good!" he chirps, meandering in closer and looking over the vessel a little himself. "I did bring back s'more'a me tools in case any repairwork'r anythin' needs done, 'long wit all th' stuff on th' list Ms. Aya gave me." And Virara, but given Seseka's reaction to his wanting to bring her in the first place... he figured omitting that part was probably for the best right now.

Nenemo Nemo: "I don't have any use for you right now. If it so comes that Miss Foxheart has a need of another modification, however, your craftsmanship will no doubt be called upon again." Nenemo Nemo states with her low, somewhat raspy voice. She seems slightly unfocused. It might be the effect of her mammets. Judging from what was alluded to before, some 'part' of Seseka seemed invested in them all, especially the red one. It might be that she's in the midst of 'multitasking' even now.

Chachanji Gegenji: "'n I'll be 'ere ta do it if'n it's needed..." Chachan reassured, tapping lightly on the more armored chest-piece of his rain slicker. Protection against rain and zombie sahagin, from the looks of things. He watched the mammets go about their business in silence for a couple moments, a couple wary glances sent Seseka's way, before he spoke again. "Um... w-were ya able ta put t'gether those... um... thin's tha'd keep th' zombie fishmens away?"

Nenemo Nemo: "Yes. I've had my boys set them up about the beaches and shorelines of this island. With any luck they will be prevented from entering Gloam again. However, I would not expect that we would be able to continue producing such devices with reckless abandon. After all, I was only able to make a surplus of disruptors here because the island is privy to a large supply of surplus Imperial communicators and parts. What with the circumstances of their independence." Nenemo Nemo muses without looking at him.

Nenemo Nemo: "Should the cultured drone problem spread beyond the vicinty of Dagon and Hydra itself, I doubt even the Empire proper could produce enough disruptors to keep every shoreline of Eorzea free of them."

Chachanji Gegenji: "Well, hopef'lly we'll be able ta deal wit th' pro'lem at th' source once we're down there... Right?" Chachan offered, though the question at the end rather clearly belied his own uncertainty of that. He fidgeted a bit, scratched at his cheek. Another awkward little silence. "Um... s-so... given all th' parts 'n stuff 'ere... ah... c-could ya be able ta make another'a of a diff'rent gadget? I-if'n ya wanted ta, a'course."

Nenemo Nemo blinks, shutting her eyes momentarily and leaning back. Some tension seems to leave her body before her eyes flutter open again. Thus unoccupied, her concentration also broken, she turns to Chachanji. "I was wondering when you'd get around to asking me whatever it was you really wanted. No one comes to an old coot like me for anything but to make a request. Well, what is it?" Nenemo Nemo places her cigar in a round glass ash tray in front of her.

Chachanji Gegenji: "Th-tha's not true! I... I wanted ta make sure ya were akay, too," he stated, silently admitting he had a request. "I... jus' didn't know which would be th' easier ta bring up first... 'n both ended up bein' kinda... difficult." He rubs at the back of his neck. "S-still, since we're on th' topic of gadgets 'n makin' stuff... I-I figgered thi' would be th' best one ta... um... start wit?" He gives an awkward shrug and smile.

Nenemo Nemo rolls her eyes. "Get on with it. I'll try to help you as best I can. It's the least I can do for your superb service."

Chachanji Gegenji: "A-akay..." He nods before taking a deep breath. "Um... w-would ya be able ta make 'nother one'a those um... aether-pullin' gadgets tha' ya used ta help me back when we were testin' those potions'a yers? Y'know, me 'n th' folks from th' Roadhouse? Ya... um... saw what extra aether does ta me 'n... I-I dun want ta risk somethin' like tha' happenin' while we're down there. I mean... g-given th' bigger zombie fishmen we saw, I-I 'spose it COULD be handy? But... I can't really... control it well."

Nenemo Nemo presses her bronzed spectacles up with her pinkie. "Ah yes, your condition. I remember it well. But that wasn't a device for "clearing aether," so much as improvising via the effects of an existing trinket I simply had on hand. More study would be needed to understand the vagaries of your physiology, such that I have a grasp exactly of what your bodily transformation entails." Nenemo Nemo: "In particular, I find it curious that you are able to gain mass so easily, yet lose it all without any discarded matter. It is a strange characteristic." Nenemo Nemo seems to mean matter as in any solid substance in this case...

Chachanji Gegenji: "A-ah... w-well, I dun really understand it meself..." he admitted, rubbing at the back of his neck again. "Jus'... whenev'r I take in extra aether... tha' happens. I thought it'd jus' last until I actively used it up 'r it was taken outta me but... ah... some recent events have shown me tha' jus'... after enough time... I go back ta normal. Still... it's th' fact tha' it happens tha's th' pro'lem... 'n if'n somethin' caused it while we were down there..." He looks down at the warehouse floor. Chachanji Gegenji: "I... I could put ev'ryone in danger."

Nenemo Nemo: "If it concerns you so much, then don't go. Why must it be you who risks yourself for the safety of others?" Nenemo Nemo questions him, a clear, calm look in her eyes.

Chachanji Gegenji: "Well, fer one... I... thin' I hafta go 'cuz otherwise Ms. Ririco might not work wit us?" He scratched at his cheek. "I mean, ya were th' one tha' said tha'." A pause. "But... I... I want ta be able ta help, too. Ta try 'n make sure ev'ryone tha's goin' down there comes back safe. Ms. Aya, Ms. Portia, you, 'n those we're goin' down there ta find. I dun thin' I could stand it if'n I stayed behind... 'n I find out ya guys got hurt. Or worse. When I coulda been there. Done somethin'."

Nenemo Nemo: "That. That there. Worrying about things you can't help. That's what I mean when I ask this of you." Nenemo Nemo points at him with the stub of her sizzling cigar. Nenemo Nemo: "I think the little brat would probably assist us so long as you delivered on your promise. I don't expect that she will lie, as... fixated as she is. But even so, you talk about this like it's something only you can do. Why?" Nenemo Nemo doesn't seem hostile, more that she's genuinely curious.

Chachanji Gegenji: "'s... not tha' it's somethin' only I can do," he admits, quietly. "Honestly, wit Virara comin' along... she could prolly handle th' fishmen all by herself. But..." A longer pause. "I want ta help. I want ta be there fer me friends. I want ta be able ta tell th' captain tha' he's got friends... a family waitin' fer 'im back in Limsa. I want ta do me best ta protect ev'ryone, ta see ev'ryone come back safe." He turns and places a hand on the Namazu. "I dun doubt th' Namazu can get ev'ryone down-- Chachanji Gegenji: --there. 's what's waitin' down there, tha' unknown... it worries me."

Nenemo Nemo: ".... Hm." Nenemo Nemo seems unimpressed. However, she slips off her stool to the ground, brushing off her sooty coat, pausing momentarily to sneeze. Nenemo Nemo: "PSCH!..."

Chachanji Gegenji: "I mean... ev'n me condition could be useful if'n I could -control- it," he insists. "But... oh, ah, bless ya."

Nenemo Nemo: "Alright fine. I don't know why you're so particular about this. It seems to me that any number of people could do what you intend to do. You don't need to put yourself in such needless danger on their behalf. But if it's what you seek out, I suppose I could cobble something together."

Chachanji Gegenji: "Mebbe they could... 'n mebbe better than I ever could. But... I'd still want ta try. Ta be there if'n I can be, ta help if'n I can. Protect who I can." He scratches at his cheeks, which have reddened a bit in embarrassment. "I... want ta see ev'ryone safe, 'n be able ta do all I can ta make tha' happen."

Nenemo Nemo: "It is a shame you cannot put that motivation forward towards your own personal goals. That aside, such a device would likely need to adhere to your body to properly channel aether into it, in the manner of a focus, attuned to your body's frequency much like that of a portable aethryte crystal. Not suitable for teleportation, but other wavelengths of energy can be funneled through it." Nenemo Nemo: "The problem is regulating that flow. I would have to study your body more carefully, but I suspect the issue is a cascading effect in which the body's massive conduciveness to aether pulls in greater and greater amounts until it can contain no more. It is a marvel you haven't exploded yet." Nenemo Nemo notes with disarmingly casual ease.

Chachanji Gegenji: "It -is- me personal goal, though. Ta see ev'ryone down there. Ta see them safely back. If'n th' captain's down there... if'n yer student's down in th' other one. I want ta see them back safely. Whether fer joyous reunion 'r..." A quiet pause. "... fer proper burial."

Nenemo Nemo: "Chachanji dear. You want these things, but not for yourself. You're only considering the needs of those around you. Believe me. I am an expert on selfishness. I have spent my life fleeing from my responsibilities, over and over again. I even faked my own death to get away from them."

Nenemo Nemo 's tone takes on a quiet, sullen tone. Nenemo Nemo: "Wanting to protect others is admirable. But you must value your own life as well. Only then can you weigh properly when and where you mean to sacrifice it." Nenemo Nemo: "A device like this could be considerably dangerous for you."

Chachanji Gegenji shakes his head. "I... do want these thin's fer meself, though," he admits. "'ve nearly lost me family ta the razin'a Doma. Me brother to a coma. A girl I onced loved 'cuz I was too afraid tha' I was more hindrance than help. I... I don't want ta lose anyone. Not if'n there's somethin' I can do about it."

Nenemo Nemo: "..."

Chachanji Gegenji: "I... want ta know I can protect people. Save people. Maybe not be a 'hero' but... at least try ta be somethin' close."

Nenemo Nemo sighs, narrowing her eyes. Nenemo Nemo: "But you're still talking about others. Have you ever considered what you'll be doing years from now? What of your trade? How do you want to advance it? Is it really just to save others' lives, and nothing else?"

Chachanji Gegenji: "But tha's the purpose of a crafter, ain't it? Ya make thin's fer others," he states. "Sure, some folks do it jus' fer profit but... there are those who make thin's 'cuz they want to see others usin' them. Ta see their lives bettered by it. Tha's what I want ta do wit me trade 'n... well... wit meself as well."

Nenemo Nemo shakes her head. "... What a waste. If nothing else, you might make a decent test subject. I can't teach those who aren't willing to learn." She doesn't seem terribly upset, however. Nenemo Nemo: "Fine, I'll make your little gadget. Don't blame me when you draw in so much aether you pop like a balloon."

Chachanji Gegenji gives an awkward chuckle. "S-speakin'a test subject... I... kinda was one a'fore, 'n I thought mebbe th' results'a tha' might help." He reaches into the bag at his side, pulling out a thin lockbox and - from that - he produces what looks like an Arcanist's codex. "There was... um... an alchemist tha' wanted ta try'n replicate what I do. Ta make super soldiers 'r somethin'. These are her notes. If'n they can help... 'n-n if'n ya need ta study me proper... tha's fine too."

Nenemo Nemo pulls the notes into her grasp rather hastily. "Give them here. What are their credentials?" Seseka questions, apparently forgetting her own are rather dubious, so long as she remains unrecognized and a fugitive from Sharlayan. "No, don't bother telling me. I'll discern them for myself. These could perhaps serve my purpose well without needing to do partial biopsy."

Chachanji Gegenji: "A-ah... sh-she is - or was - a member'a th' Alchemists' Guild?" he offers quickly when she all but snatches the tome from him. "'n-n she was able ta kinda-sorta replicate th' results wit 'er assistant so... I-I guess she figgered at least part'a it out?" He scratches at his cheek, though it pauses at 'biopsy.' He didn't really know what the word meant but... perhaps it was the rabbit that was his spirit animal... he had a feeling that it wasn't a very good word in regards to his own well-being.

Nenemo Nemo: "Drawing ambient aether into the body without proper training or a suitable focus is highly dangerous. It could potentially result in overaspecting, or aether poisoning, or the suffusion of your body with other aetheric maladies. Not to mention the surrounding environment could suffer a catastrophic loss of aether as a result, depending on how depleted it already is. I will have to account for this with the device. A tomestone might be capable of acting as a regulator." Nenemo Nemo: "Many allagan devices are designed to be able to efficiently self-regulate aetherflow such that they cannot exceed capacity, storing the aether away in containers until they can be safely disposed of. I could perhaps re-purpose such a circuit to your needs, and allow for an infusion. Transforming back will be trickier. And most likely, the device would restrict you to an infusion that doesn't exceed the healthy limits your aetherpool could sustain for a short duration." Nenemo Nemo: "In other words, you would only be able to grow so large. Has that dissuaded you enough?"

Chachanji Gegenji: "W-well, if'n it helps... 've had a lotta... practice wit it recently," he offers, a bit of a grimace crossing his features of memories that were obviously a little bittersweet. "So, hopef'lly tha' should help?" He paused as she continued, trying to follow along with her jargon as best as he could. To what success was debatable. "W-wait, so thi' wouldn't jus' be a device tha'd keep me from changin' ev'ry time I get too much aether, but let me activate it 'n control it?" Chachanji Gegenji's eyes grow wide with awe upon seeing you. Chachanji Gegenji had obviously not been dissuaded at all.

Nenemo Nemo: "Practice? How so?" Nenemo Nemo nods. Nenemo Nemo: "It would be an aetheric regulator, similar to that which keeps Allagan devices from overloading. The excess would be stored for use in giving you a safe, regulated infusion of aether, such that for a brief amount of time, you could perhaps grow in size." Nenemo Nemo: "After a certain amount of time, or when you have completed your use of it, the excess aether would be siphoned off of you and stored in a crystal, to be discarded or kept with you as needed."

Chachanji Gegenji: "I made friends wit some... well... they called 'emselves Pixies. They're like Sylphs but more... person-lookin'?" he explained. "'n they liked playin' pranks 'n stuff. 'n tha' included messin' wit me condition once they knew'a it. Tha' 'n... sometimes their pranks backfired 'n needed help dealin' wit th' mess. Which often tended ta be large, too. So... yeah... a lotta practice." A sigh, then a shake of the head. As if to dismiss the negative memories and focus more on the positives of the-- Chachanji Gegenji: --here-and-now. "I... thin' I get what yer sayin' 'n... tha'd be really impressive if'n it can do tha'. I... still ain't wholly comfortable -usin'- th' ability but... I can't lie tha' there's been times I thought it woulda be useful. Like durin' th' storm when th' larger zombie fishmen showed up." Chachanji Gegenji: "But... wit th' difficulty I have usin' it... 'n worryin' 'bout gettin' too big 'n causin' more pro'lems or fear... I hesitated, y'know?"

Nenemo Nemo tilts her head to the side Nenemo Nemo: "... Pixies? I know not of such an organism. Don't you mean sylphs?" Nenemo Nemo thinks to herself. "They sound like sylphs."

Chachanji Gegenji: "I mean, they looked a lot like Sylphs. They jus' called themselves Pixies." He shrugs.

Nenemo Nemo: "Are you sure they weren't just sylphs under a different name?"

Chachanji Gegenji: "'s possible, I jus' went 'long wit it ta try'n keep them happy. Upsettin' 'em jus' meant more pranks."

Nenemo Nemo 's mouth flattens into a thin line. "It would be useful to dissect one. Already deceased, of course. Then I could determine if any physiological differences exist. I believe the sylphs have more in common with seedkin than beastkin or spoken... which are really just beastkin who talk... This categorization really needs to be revised. If only I had been able to continue at the academy..." Nenemo Nemo mutters to herself.

Chachanji Gegenji gets a bit of a worried look, uncertain how the likes of Gria would take to offering up one of their own - deceased or not - for such practices. "W-well, anyroad, 'cuz'a them I spent a lot more time big then I had since... well... since gettin' th' ability ta begin wit. So I 'spose I have them ta thank fer all th' practice."

Nenemo Nemo: "Hm. It will be useful. You may have an inherent feel for how much your aetherpool is able to accommodate of foreign aether." Nenemo Nemo stretches her arms out at her sides. "Much like the limitations of holding one's breath, or straining your muscles to their limit.

Chachanji Gegenji: "Tha's... a neat way ta put it," the little smith admits.

Nenemo Nemo smiles and taps her fist against her chest. Nenemo Nemo: "Immaterial and material are my fields of study. The aetherpool, and by extension, one's anima, are waveforms, true, like an invisible aura of energy within ourselves, but they are as much 'you' as your flesh and blood. And I am quite familiar with manipulating that immaterial half of you." She glances at her mammets. Nenemo Nemo: "People speak of it as a spiritual energy, like a soul, but I believe one day body and 'spirit' will be as manipulable as one's clothing."

Chachanji Gegenji: "'s still 'me', huh...?" he echoes quietly to himself, a soft smile drifting across his features. The phrase reminding him of a more pleasant collection of memories. "Chagenji is Chagenji," he murmurs quietly with a chuckle before looking back up at Seseka. Seemingly having missed the last part about the goals of body and spirit manipulation in the process. He awkwardly tries to cover that fact, though. "W-well, seems like I was right tha' ya'd be th' best person ta ask fer help on thi'."

Nenemo Nemo: "Of course I am. I am a professor of aetherochemistry, and far more versed in these matters than any of my tedious peers. Aside from perhaps Loloki. But nevermind that ruin-diving, dust-encrusted scarab." Nenemo Nemo recounts her peer with a faint tone of amusement.

Chachanji Gegenji: "... Loloki?" he echoes, the name seeming... vaguely familiar. Perhaps he had encountered her once? "W-well, if'n thi' gadget will be able ta do all th' thin's I thin' yer sayin' it can... 's ev'n more than what I was hopin' fer."

Nenemo Nemo: "I will need to do some limited testing on you, but I expect I should be able to succeed. In return, I only ask you work hard procuring any materials I require for the construction of a device. Oh, and out of curiosity, how did you manage a solution to the matter of well, your clothes?"

Chachanji Gegenji: "Oh, ah... tha's a bit of a group effort, act'lly," Chachan admitted. "I know a tailor who's partner changes size - though not ta th' degree I do - 'n made special cloth ta accommodate 'er. Tha' plus th' runic leatherworkin' I learned from th' Nu Mou 'n... well, 've managed ta make at least some outfits tha' scale wit me ta some degree. I hafta wear them fer a bit, a'course. 'Soulbindin'' I thin' was th' term fer it."

Nenemo Nemo: "Hmm... Nu Mou? You've been to some strange places. I've not heard of these people either. A leatherworking cooperative?" Nenemo Nemo: "I will have to draw upon your knowledge to make certain my methods of adapting the device to fit you properly aren't inconsistent with theirs."

Chachanji Gegenji: "Cooperative's prolly a good word," Chachan stated with a chuckle. "They 'pparently REALLY liked bein' able ta help others. 'course, they were SUPER strict 'bout the rules of th' exchange. Like... if they asked fer three frog legs fer their work, they wanted EXACTLY three. No more, no less. Got... kinda scary 'bout it, honestly..." A brief shiver. "A-anyroad, yer helpin' me out a lot wit all thi', so I'll help ya wit as much of it as I can."

Nenemo Nemo: "Yes, yes that's fine. I will get to work immediately with the immediate research needed to plan the specifications of this regulator, so for the time being, shoo!" Nenemo Nemo ushers Chachanji off hastily, clearly more obsessed with the idea of putting together the device now than anything else she was previously working on. Hopefully she won't be TOO distracted from her work maintaining the submersible until it is used again.

Chachanji Gegenji: "A-ah... w-wait, there was th' other reason tha' I came too... th-th' one tha' wasn't jus' lookin' fer a favor!" he interjected quickly as he's being Lalafellhandled out towards the door. "I-I mean it tha' I want ta see all'a ya akay! 'n-n I saw Mr. Alec say somethin' ta ya tha' seemed ta freak ya out! S-so... um..." A pause at the door, since she had managed to jostle him all the way there. "I-if'n yer in trouble, 'r... 'r jus' need an ear ta bend. Lemme know, akay?"

Nenemo Nemo grins toothily. "Don't you worry about it dear. Worst comes to worst, I'll just put him to sleep with one of my lectures!" Nenemo Nemo: "But thank you."

Chachanji Gegenji pouts, but relents. "I-if'n ya say so. Jus'... wanted ta put tha' offer out there, is all. We're all in thi' t'gether, right?"

Nenemo Nemo: "Of COURSE we are. Don't sweat the details, Chachanji darling. It's just a bit of old people chattering about, that's all. I won't divulge the secrets of my research to him so easily."

Chachanji Gegenji nods before heading out the door. "Akay. Jus' know yer one'a th' ones I want ta keep safe too, Ms. Seseka." He adjusted his bag. "A-anyroad, I should get these spices ta Ms. Aya. Let me know if'n ya need me!"

Nenemo Nemo: "Go already! I have to get to work on your device! Don't make me boot you out the door!"

Chachanji Gegenji: "'m goin', 'm goin'!"

Nenemo Nemo shooes him away, all but booting him bodily from the warehouse.

[mal-likes-biscuits]

More Diablo Character Head-Cannons

[Continued from here, so I don’t hijack the poof.]

I have pretty detailed head-cannons for most of the characters, including their personal habits. Some of the material makes it into stories when it’s relevant, whereas most of it doesn’t. But after talking with @fishyfiash about Inarius’ hair poof, I wanted to share some of the more relatable ones. Mostly about Malthael. And a few others.

Content after the break, because this is loooooong.

Malthael Discovers the Mortal Pool(s) of Wisdom

I have two Tales from Tristram chapters that I never posted, mostly because they were a bit too disjointed and they didn’t entirely fit into the series-cannon I was developing. The first one, though, went into details about when Malthael first moves in with Tyrael, and how they adjust to that. The Nephalem in town don’t find out right away because Tyrael bans him from going outside until he can figure out exactly what to do with him.

This goes marginally well until Malthael discovers that Tyrael has a bathtub. Up until this point, he’s been bathing in rivers, ponds, etc. because he’d mostly been living outside. He takes care of himself, but you know, Sanctuary isn’t exactly known for working plumbing. But some of the wealthier residents of Tristram do have a proper claw-foot tub, including Tyrael.

And, well…you probably should just read the best part of that canned-chapter excerpt:

However, the one habit Tyrael absolutely could not abide was Malthael’s obsession with the bath. He did not understand how a man who seemed to care so little about his physical appearance could waste endless hours soaking. He was not entirely sure Malthael even washed while in the tub, for he continually looked as though he had spent several days rolling about in the woods. He suspected his brother spent most of his time floating and staring at the rafters, perhaps trying to reclaim some sort of communion with nature in place of his previous use of the Pools.

What it meant was the bath water needed to be changed often. And since only Tyrael could leave the house, he spent a gratuitous amount of time heaving buckets from the town well back to his home. After which he would go to use the bath himself, often to find it occupied again. Try as he did, there was no dislodging Malthael from the room once he entered. He locked the door and responded to Tyrael’s annoyed pounding with terse apologies or, sometimes, simply, “Busy.”

Thus, it was not through any sort of redemptive behaviour or earned trust that Malthael gained himself permission to walk about Tristram. It was because Tyrael was tired of doing chores for two adults, and he knew that Malthael was damn well capable of caring for himself if given the opportunity to do so. It was not his responsibility to ensure his brother was fed or watered, and he could carry his own bath water.

This probably isn’t a surprise, given Malthael’s habits when he was immortal. There’s canon descriptions of him being elusive, quiet, and spending a great deal of time just staring into the Chalice. He loses some of that, plus his access to the Pools, when he becomes mortal. And though there isn’t actually any indication of what you do with the Pools, I’ve assumed the experience of looking into them (and the Chalice, by extension) is pretty similar to being in a sensory-pond and just…floating.

Which is what he discovers as soon as he gets over his initial ���wtf is this giant bucket of water” reaction. The tub is one of the few places he can block out external noise. I imagine he soaks with only his nose and eyes sticking out, and just lies there and lets everything else go away. I would also imagine that if you really wanted to try and “woo” him, your best bet would be to present him with an already-prepared hot bath. Possibly with some oils or potpourri thrown in. Nothing too flowery, though. Something earthy, or spicy.

I’ve alluded to his preference for bathing before in a previous cannon-short. Unfortunately, as much as I love it, it’s never made it into a story proper, even if I consider it a critical part of his early-series character.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Ya’ll thought you were going to get through this post without a pun, didn’t you? Pfffft no.

In terms of mortal angels, I would assume their hair closely reflects the head-covering they use in their immortal form. Tyrael, for example, has a tight-fitting hood, which becomes his very bald (shaved?) head later. For this reason, Malthael has long hair, because his cowl has damn long ribbons on it.

The guy has a love-hate relationship with his hair. He would never, ever cut it short, because he likes being able to hide his face behind it. It’s comforting to him, the same way he likes the feel of it cascading over his shoulders. It’s a fundamental part of his body-image.

But, of course, long hair has its disadvantages. It tangles, for one, especially if it’s too long. It’s harder to wash. (Regardless of how much time he spends soaking in the bathtub, it’s not time he spends washing his hair.) It flies in your face when you’re trying to swing your swords.

Which means that there is an optimal length for his hair. This is approximately around or just past his shoulders. Long enough to cover his face, but short enough he’s not at risk of getting it caught in his weapons. Or his armor. And it tucks into a hood well enough. And he doesn’t have to spend hours trying to maintain it at a waste of his precious time. Don’t even suggest that he tie it up, because that completely ruins the cowl effect.

So far, so good. Until winter hits, and it gets cold. And it snows. Tristram is a fairly temperate climate, from what I can tell. It wouldn’t get too hot in the summer, and I assume it would snow in dumps in the winter. Anyone with long or curly hair knows that humidity of any kind is…bad.

The very precise drapes of hair that he carefully maintains develop their own internal gravity. They become frizzy. They stick out at weird angles. And no matter how much time he spends trying to keep his hair out of his eyes, it always ends up back in them.

Malthael, of course, refuses to do the simple thing, which would be to cut his hair in the winter. Instead, he packs up his bag and goes someplace warm. If you’ve (for whatever reason) been tracking his travels in the series, he always disappears for long stints over the winter months. There are multiple reasons for this, including that he legitimately dislikes being in the cold for too long, because, you know: death. Also, he’s no idiot, and he’s figured out that people always seem to get ill when it starts to snow.

But, going someplace warm and dry also conveniently puts his hair back where it should be. Mostly.

Malthael’s OCD hasn’t gone anywhere since he became mortal. If anything, he now has more things to become OCD about.

When your BFF Knows Hair Better Than You

Farah and Malthael talk quite a bit, whether it’s through letters or, eventually, in person. We’ve seen a bit of what they chat about, but it also extends to occasionally more mundane topics. Including hair.

Both Farah and Aya are blessed (or cursed, they might say) with extremely thick hair. And since they both wear theirs long, they’ve learned all kinds of ways of keeping it up out of the way, and also of keeping it healthy. Aya is a lot flashier with her hairstyles, but Farah is practiced in all sorts of braids, buns, you name it. You can’t carry books around if your hair is always falling in your face.

She notices early on that Malthael doesn’t do anything with his hair. Of course, she also doesn’t say anything, because she knows he’s particular about his looks. They have to be just so. But eventually, one night, they’re sitting and talking in front of the library fire, while listening to a torrential downpour that’s been going on outside all day.

And he keeps trying to blow hair from his face. Repeatedly. He’s clearly annoyed. And Farah has had enough of their conversation being interrupted with “pfffffft” every twenty seconds that she has to say something.

This is how Malthael learns about proper hair care. I mean, Tyrael isn’t any help. He doesn’t have any. But Farah certainly does. And she’s familiar with hair oils, and all the things you need if you have thick, long hair and you live in a desert oasis.

She never does convince him to let her braid his hair, or anything of the sort. But he does end up with substantially less frizz when it gets rainy outside. And he becomes quite the expert at braiding her hair if she asks. Because, fair is fair, and if she wants to do something weird like that with hers, then he isn’t about to judge.

Coffee is the Drink of the Gods…

The other Tristram short that was canned, which I might post eventually just as a joke-fic, had to do with Aya bringing Farah a coffee set from Caldeum, and Malthael absconding with it because Farah absolutely can’t stand the taste or smell of it. The fic was canned because it was just too tongue in cheek and because I didn’t like working coffee into the story that much, though they would likely have some sort of equivalent there.

But yes, for anyone who is wondering: Malthael does drink coffee sometimes. He prefers tea because it keeps him awake without absolutely wiring him. But sometimes, you’re working late, and you just really want to finish something, and the only thing that will help with that is a good, dark cup-o-joe.

Tyrael hates when Malthael drinks coffee, because it makes him jittery, and he also starts. Talking. Incessantly. Coffee removes his mental filter almost as much as alcohol does, at least in terms of conversation. And it also makes his conversations even harder to follow, because his brain is jumping around at several times the speed of its already remarkably fast pace. Any conversation with him while he’s had coffee is just a relentless string of non-sequiturs that make perfect sense to Malthael and no sense to anyone else.

…Unless You’re Tyrael, and then the Drink of the Gods is Alcohol

Tyrael is one of those work-hard, play-hard kind of guys. In a completely respectful, kind-hearted way. But, in short, his favorite thing to do after a long, stressful day of work is to get hammered and sing raucous drinking songs until the wee hours of the morning. He makes no apologies about it. He likes being mortal at this point. He likes all the emotional, giddy, messy parts of being mortal. He likes dreaming, he likes eating, he likes drinking, he likes banging.

If you think Malthael hates when Tyrael comes home four sheets to the wind and proceeds to slam around cupboards and doors and everything while Malthael is trying to read quietly, then yeah. You’d be right. (They’re brothers with completely different personalities, they find all sorts of ways to piss each other off.)

Most of the time, they co-habitate fine, because Malthael is often not home, or not even in Tristram. But he’s been subjected enough to Tyrael’s boisterous, happy-drunk-mode to know that it’s best to just nod, fake a smile, and let his brother talk until he passes out. Hopefully on a chair, because Tyrael is a LOT bigger than Malthael, and regardless of physical fitness, Malthael has a 21 in dexterity and a 12 in strength, and he’s not lifting his bro into bed. No way.

Now, Tyrael must drink a lot to get to that point. Which is why he’s at the tavern all night.

Malthael does not drink. Well, he shouldn’t drink. He’s a cheap date. One beer, and he’s getting a bit chatty. Two, and his filter is gone. Three, and he’s probably hanging off your shoulder and either arguing about some completely esoteric philosophical principle, or he’s laughing about the shape of the tree leaves.

Lyndon vastly prefers Tyrael drinking to Malthael, because Tyrael is fun. Malthael isn’t exactly aggressive, but he can get kind of argumentative, especially if you prove him wrong about something. Which is not hard to do when he’s drunk. You only think you’re wise when you’re drinking.

Which Takes us to How They Know This (Also Known as, the Time Malthael Drank Mead)

The story of Talm’s wedding has been referenced a few times, mostly in the Tristram stories, but it never really gets expanded on beyond that lots of mead is imbued. The real truth is that when Malthael tells them he doesn’t drink, he’s never tried until that point. All he knows is it makes mortals act stupid. You don’t need it to survive. So, why bother? (Biscuits are superior.)

But, sometimes he succumbs to peer pressure. He’s happy for Talm, and he’s feeling pretty content, and they really want him to have fun. He’s only going to sit with them to talk. That’s it.

Except, research. Hey Malthael, how do you know what alcohol is like if you don’t try it? How can you even appreciate how it affects other mortals if you haven’t even experienced it a little bit? He’s watched random people drink enough to assume you have to drink a lot for anything to really happen.

Oh. Poor guy. They have mead. It’s probably a good 15% at least. And he is the world’s. Cheapest. Drunk.

So now, they’re stuck with him at their table, and he really just wants to talk about stuff. He has a lot to get off his chest. He’s only been mortal for a year, and really doesn’t understand social conventions yet, and all of these emotions he’s been bottling up this whole time want to get out. All at the same time.

They’re relieved the farmers have no idea what Malthael is talking about, because he’s blathering on about cups filled with light, this incessant noise that still follows him around everywhere, and how he doesn’t get why this all makes so much more sense now when he’s stupider compared to when he was taller and brilliant.

Lyndon isn’t nearly hammered enough to be listening to all of this. He’s still skeptical that they didn’t just stab Malthael in Salvos and be done with it. But he’s also kind of…amused. Because this is the guy they spent days tracking down in Westmarch. Whose deep, terrifying voice was blathering on through the Soulstone about Murder and Souls and Deeeeeeeeath.

And now he’s in an argument with Jerem’s cousin about the proper way to season biscuits.

This is clearly not the same person. Or, at least, he’s a mortal, healthier version of the angel they happened to stab many, many times through the chest. Healthy is relative, Lyndon guesses. If it doesn’t include being really intoxicated. And from what he can tell, Malthael is still an impatient, sarcastic know-it-all. He’s just shorter and eats things now.

The whole party really jumps the shark after Talm and Lena disappear for the night, and the relatives get rowdy. Someone starts up a little sparring competition with practice sticks. Tyrael, of course, jumps right in, because holy shit, drinking and physical activity? He’s all for that. The farm hands put up a very good fight, but he eventually comes out on top.

But, you know, drunks can be drunks, and someone starts razzing the little skinny guy to go and challenge his brother. Hey, are you really brothers, even? You don’t even look the same. But, whatever. No can do, says Malthael, he’s not getting involved with that. At least, until someone calls him a coward.

And then he gets mad.

Oh Hells, Lyndon thinks. But also, Hells yes, because this is going to be hilarious. It is, for most of it. Neither Tyrael or Malthael is sober enough to swing the sticks properly. It ends up being a great show of them stumbling around and taunting each other. Too much taunting, probably. It gets personal. It’s good for them, right? They still have a lot to talk out.

Tyrael isn’t the best at talking at this point. He takes all his immense frustration at his stupid brother, puts it in his fist, and punches Malthael in the face.

Which is how the party ends.

Jerem watches the whole thing perfectly sober, because he’s the responsible host, and he’s really confused at who the hell these two actually are who have spent the night arguing about angels, and demons, and related things like they exist. Now one of them has a bloody nose, and the other is apologizing profusely, and there’s a lot of adult tears happening about betrayal, and bad decisions, and Jerem figures neither of them is going to remember any of this in the morning.

But, brothers are brothers, everyone has troubles, and he’s not going to get involved, other than to get some ice from the cellar, and a few rags to mop up the blood.

Malthael wakes up on the floor of the barn, covered in hay, spilled mead, and pastry crumbs, and decides he’s died again because his head hurts so bad. He also decides that drinking is the dumbest thing in the world, and he’s never going to do it again.

Probably.

But that’s a story for a different time that you’ll actually get to read.

[kawaiibobatea-blog]

Lucky

She was grace. She was beauty. Never before had he been so stunned by a woman's presence before. Then again, being a scientist he never had many chances to be around women at all. Women were never his strong suit, it was always numbers, formulas, hypotheses, and test tubes. His mother had chastised him over the years about how he was never going to get a girlfriend because he was too wrapped up in science. When he laid eyes on Aya Brea, for the first time, he despised his impairment of being able to speak coherently with women.

"What's the matter? You can't speak English?" Daniel had asked him. On the research he had done on America, it seemed that there were quite a number of citizens or visitors who didn't know how to speak English. Thankfully, he wasn't like that. Naturally, he had some difficulty since English wasn't his first language, but he was able to understand and communicate, though slowly. "I... Mm... That is..." He had tried to get a word out, but she was looking at him too. I'm Kunihiko Maeda. I'm a scientist from Japan. A simple sentence was all he was asking for. Eight words to say to the scary man and the woman in front of him. "I'm...Kunihiko Maeda. I'm a scientist from Japan." Phew. He had gotten out the sentence.

Daniel and Aya had began telling him about the spontaneous combustion and the mysterious woman named "Eve" that was plaguing New York. He simply nodded along and listened to the story. When they were finished he simply folded his arms. He wanted to help, that was his job. He was a scientist and he devoted his job to cells and the mitochondria. "You believe us?" She had said, her voice soft but determined at the same time. If it wasn't for the fact of researching about the scientist in Japan that had cultured his wife's liver cells to create a clone, he wouldn't believe this. A similar incident was shocking, since it was so out of the normal things. As a scientist, he didn't believe anything without evidence. When he decided to help Aya and Daniel, he had no idea what he had walked into.

Through the journey that he had went through with his friends, he had gathered more research and found out that Aya was more than just a cop. She was beautiful, graceful, determined, and most of all... She was dangerous. More than once she had risked her life for the two of them and somehow she had been able to walk out of it all. He had noticed through this mitochondrial journey, he had noticed the simple things about the woman. How her blonde hair would fall over her shoulder and after a hard battle, she'd toss her hair over her shoulder and her bangs out of her face. Kunihiko worried about the well-being of the beautiful blonde woman and felt the need to empower her with lucky charms that he had gotten throughout his life. It didn't matter to him anymore that they were from his parents or that he had bought that were blessed by Shinto priests. More than anything, he just wanted her to be safe. He wanted to see her walk out of this so he could tell her...

Aya, I-

He was cut off in the middle of his thoughts by Daniel pulling him towards the jet that would take them out of the proximity of the battle where Aya would be fighting the Ultimate Being. His mind perked. Those bullets! Aya's cells were something special and as weird as it sounded, he couldn't help but study them. Someone so special even had beautiful cells. Those cells were the key to this. He tried to fish the clip of bullets out of his coat pocket but Daniel was pulling on his arms. "C'mon! We gotta go!"

"Daniel... No.. Wait I-" Despite his protests, he was pulled into the jet. "Be careful..." Aya said, and Maeda was sure that she had locked eye contact with him. Her gaze turned his blood cold and his face heated up. In her hands, he was able to see that Aya held the lucky charms that he had given her and watched her squeeze them tightly, her eyes following the jet. "Goodbye..."

Maeda could do nothing except watch in horror during the fight with the Ultimate Being. It grew every time he thought that she had killed it. By the time it reached maturity, he was practically leaning out of the jet. That mature being was hitting her and even from here, he could see that she was having difficulty fighting. Her steps had gotten slower. Aya looked at her gun and Maeda could only guess that she was running out of bullets. Fear filled his frame the more he watched. Eyes were glued to the scene and Daniel had to pull him back from jumping out of the jet when Aya fell to her knees in front of the mature being. His eyes widened and he wanted to help her. This was Aya Brea after all. Her hand reached up and a bright light shined out of it and he felt his heartbeat decrease more towards a normal rate when the mature being collapsed. "Is it over?" Daniel asked him, his eyes glued to the scene as well. No more than fifteen seconds seconds later, the being began to change once more. It's wings fell off and it changed colors. The creature was nothing more than an over sized version of Jell-O. A dangerous, over sized version of Jell-O. Aya shot at the creature, but it didn't even flinch as it came closer to her. No matter how many shots she released from her gun, no matter how far she ran from it, it just came closer. Maeda stuffed his hands in his pockets, a habit that he did when he was nervous. His eyes widened, those bullets!

"Daniel, I have these..." He pulled the clip out and looked at the buff man. "What are those?!" He yelled, seeing the gun clip in the Japanese scientist's hand. "These are bullets that were made from Aya's cells-" "What?! Gimme those!" He yelled and grabbed the clip.

Before Maeda could stop him, Daniel jumped out of the jet. His eyes widened in horror when Daniel caught on fire and threw the bullets at Aya. She dropped the empty clip and loaded her gun with the bullets that he had made. Thankfully, Daniel had fallen into the water so he was okay. Daniel was tough, Maeda knew that he'd be okay. His eyes went back to Aya who shot at the creature, now she was standing her ground. The creature dropped to the ground and began to disintegrate. Gel ebbed onto the battleship floor. Aya lowered her gun and looked at the creature. He held his breath and his heartbeat was quick once more. She flipped her hair behind her shoulder and he couldn't help but smile. The strong woman that he tried his hardest to act normal around turned and began to walk away. The creature got up, sliding towards her.

"Aya!" Maeda called. It was the first time he had been able to coherently call her name to her face. The cop turned around and saw the creature and backed up.

"...! You've gotta be kidding me!" Aya shot at the creature. With another attempt he found that she was now looking at her gun and frowning. From what he was looked at her gun and frowned. It seemed that she was completely out of bullets. She held her gun and turned around and ran into the ship.

Minutes passed and seconds ticked by. Sweat was on his brow and he wondered what was happening inside of that ship. He prayed to everything that he could think of that Aya would find something to wipe that thing out, that he'd see her leave. Aya Brea couldn't die. She just couldn't.

"Not before I tell her..." He mumbled to himself. He noticed that Daniel was swimming towards the docks. At least he was alright. What happened? What was happening? She was out of bullets... Things were not looking good for her. With how exhausted she looked, it didn't look like she'd be able to use any of her mitochondrial powers. Loud sounds and crackling was heard and he felt his jaw dropping, the ship blew up. To pieces. There was nothing that survived. As much as he wanted to look away from the scene, but his eyes wouldn't obey his mind. A head peeked out of the water and he watched the water fly from her now wet hair. Maeda looked at the pilot who seemed to understand that it was now safe.

"I was born with a birth defect in my right eye?" Aya asked when Daniel and him were standing by her. Maeda nodded and noticed how she was gripping onto the lucky charms that he had given her.

"When your sister died, you got her right eye." Daniel informed, having gotten the information.

"...Maya's...with me?" Maeda watched as Daniel nodded. He reached his arm out, he wanted to say something to her. He wanted to touch her shoulder to comfort her, but... he felt it drop back at his side. It didn't seem like the right time or place and she just looked like she wanted to be left alone.

Maeda stood at the entrance of Carnegie Hall, bouncing on his heels.

"Calm down, will ya?" Daniel said and he cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck. Daniel, Aya, and himself had a 'hang out' that Daniel had called it to go and see an opera. It was shocking that Aya had agreed to it, after all, this is how it all started. It was the same exact opera as well. Turning, he was able to see a beautiful blonde woman in a black dress with a long slit up the side. She held a small black clutch and she smiled awkwardly. Looking at her, you wouldn't be able to guess that 2 ½ weeks ago, she was on a naval ship fighting for the survival of everyone on the planet.

"..." Maeda felt his face heat up at seeing Aya.

"Hey, get your eyes back in your skull!" Daniel said, clapping him on the back and knocking his glasses off of his face. He juggled trying to hold his glasses and exhaled when he was able to catch them. He swallowed and put his glasses back on his face. He heard Aya giggle and he felt like crawling under a rock and dying. Aya looked at the doors and motioned towards the door. "Let's go." She said softly, leading them inside. They picked a seat and waited for the opera to begin. Maeda was sitting next to Aya and he felt himself fidgeting. He'd never been in a suit before and to top that new sensation off, he was sitting next to her.

What do I do?! He yelled at himself.

No one breathed a word and watched the opera.

"Father, please give me permission to marry Eva." The Prince of the story said, staring at his father.

"I FORBID it! You know well what will happen if you do!" The King said, shaking his staff at his son. "Those who succumb to her beauty ALL die in horrible ways!"

"You don't understand! SHE is the one who has suffered after the deaths."

"She is evil! Guard! Grab her! Burn her at the stake!" The guard began to carry out the King's order to burn Eva at the stake. The Prince stepped in front of the guard and pushed him away.

"Father! If you are sentencing her to death... then I ask that you take my life along with hers."

"Edward..." The woman playing Eva said and began her solo. Maeda stood and felt the other two standing and staring at the stage. "Can you sit down?" The man behind them said. "We can't see."

The woman playing Eva's song stopped. Everything in the play continued. Maeda exhaled and sat down and continued watching the play.

He was hyper aware of Aya's every movement next to him. Her hand on the rest, his hand on the rest, but making sure he didn't touch her. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable. He was aware when she'd cross her leg. He couldn't really watch the play and couldn't understand what was happening. He felt the warm touch of skin and against skin and he looked down at his hand and saw that Aya's dainty one was on his. She was watching the play, and didn't seem worried. She didn't seem to mind. When he saw her hand, it was on his. She had put her hand on his. The lights dimmed and he glanced over at her. A small movement on her side and he felt something warm against his lips. The beautiful blonde woman that he admired so much was kissing him. She put her hand against his cheek and leaned closer, putting more force into their kiss. Maeda didn't want to admit it, but he had never kissed anyone before. Now he was kissing the woman of his dreams. He was just hoping that he was doing it right. As if fueling his worry, she broke their kiss. She smiled her bright, white smile and looked up in his eyes. It was a strange color, one that he couldn't be described. It was something that was purely her. Her and only her.

"They worked." She said softly, making sure not to disturb anyone as they watched the opera.

"...? W-W-What did?" Maeda whispered nervously.

"Those charms." Aya spoke. Maeda felt his heart speed up. Those charms? The charms he gave her?! "T-The lucky ones?"

"Yeah. I got lucky." "W-Well yes. Y-You survived and saved everyone." He heard that giggle and felt his heartbeat quicken even more. He was sure that he was going to have a heart attack.

"I didn't mean that. I meant you, Kunihiko..." She whispered. "I got lucky with you."

No, I'm the lucky one...

Okay, so this was my first ship of all time. It was also the first fanfiction I wrote that was this ship, so, I hope that all you Kyle x Aya people don’t diss me too much cause I know y’all can be super savage. Also pretending that The 3rd Birthday didn’t happen.

[draginhikari]

Final Fantasy XIV: Azure and Crimson Section 1: Warrior of Light, Shadros Hiku Chapter 3: Return to Tam Tara Deepcroft

(Events take place after Patch 2.5 Before the Fall Part 1)

Shadros grumbled as he placed another new tile against the wall, mounting it into place.   He had only now gotten around to fixing his room after his previous tantrum from the Nexus Weapon vision.  It was obvious by the thick layer of dust coating most of the house, that Shadros had been mostly away since the incident. His work with Gerolt and Jalzahn had taken up the vast majority of his time since then but after so much work, the Zodiac Brave Excalibur and Aegis Shield were completed.  Though the weapons were new, the fact that they were born of his previous Relic Weapon meant the earlier visions had not ceased and still occurred for him on a regular basis.  Sometimes in the same order, sometimes different.  He had gotten used to them by now and focused on trying to memorize certain details. The random nature of visions, however, made it difficult to do so.  

Recent events with the Scions had complicated matters further for him beyond the visions.  During an investigation of the Agrius’ Wreckage he had been stripped of the blessing of his crystals of light by the Wyrmking, Midgardsormr, for unknown reasons. Midgardsormr was now using the stolen aether to create a new form which he was tailing Shadros around for equally unknown reasons.   Shadros grumbled. The last thing he needed was another ancient force tailing him around and the fact that he could say that so casually was more disturbing then the fact that it was actually happening.   The loss of the blessing resulted in a battle with the Ascian, Nabriales who took advantage of the loss to attempt to steal the Tupsimati from the Scions. Though Shadros was able to fight off the Ascian, even without the blessing and was able to destroy the Ascian with the help of White Auracite.  It only worked due to the sacrifice of Moenbryda much to Shadros’ own frustration.   As a result of her death, the Scions were a bit low at the moment.   Shadros had also received requests from Alisaie to complete their investigation of the Binding Coils, but he did not respond to her message nor to the messages of anyone else requesting his help.   He was too focused on his current situation and only got involved when the Scions directly requested his help.

Shadros sighed with relief once he finished the repairs on the wall before making his way to the chair near his new bed and took the Aegis to polish the metallic blue surface of the shield.   As he did so he would hear a knock on his door.   Shadros simply called out, “Enter,” Shadros heard the door open and shut, he didn’t bother looking up from he was doing, “What do you want? I’m kind of busy here.”

A female voice spoke up in a rather flowery tone and it took him a moment to recognize the voice as Aya, “It has been some time, my lord. I hope I can be of service to you today.” Shadros merely grumbled at the voice, “It’s about time you finally showed up.  What’s with the weird accent?”  Shadros looked up to ask, “Where the hell have you bbbbeeeeennnn…” Shadros stretched out his last word and fell backward in the chair falling flat on his back in shock.  Aya was no longer dressed in the merchant’s attire, but rather in skimpy looking black bikini that looked more like something a courtesan or escort would be wearing.  Shadros stumbled to his feet blushing furiously stammering out his next sentence very quickly, “Woman!  What the hell are you doing wandering around the Goblet dressed like that!?” Aya laughed returning to her previous tone of voice, “I needed to find you without raising suspicion.  People around here don’t tend to questions ‘service girls’ especially in Ul’dah of all places.  Privates matters and all that.” Shadros was flabbergasted at what he just heard, “The most subtle thing you could do… was to… pretend you were some kind of prostitute and wander casually into my house in board daylight where someone could clearly see you!?” Shadros’ volume escalated through the entire verbal thought process.

Aya said putting her hand together with a smile as if she were pleased with herself, “Seem like a flawless plan to me and besides the look on your face is completely worth it.” Shadros puts his hand to his face muttering through his fingers, “How in the hell are you still breathing in your line of work with that kind of thought process?   Please tell me that no one saw you coming in here.”  He was praying to the twelve that Una wasn’t in the Goblet at the time.  She would never let this go if she had seen Aya enter his house like that.

Aya chuckled some putting her hands on her hips, “For your information I can be serious when it comes down to the nitty gritty, but I prefer to have a little fun where I can from time to time.  You hard cases are always fun to mess with.”

Shadros began to wonder if he had made a mistake of hiring someone who didn’t ask for nearly as much gil as he expected.  Aya was making up for the low price tag by screwing around with him and it was pissing him off.   He threw one of the blankets from his bed at her, “Will you quit screwing around? For the sake of the Twelve put some damn clothes on.   Last time I checked I hired you to gather information not to dress up like a whore.” Aya caught the blanket sneering at him, “My, my how little fun you are. You’d be surprised what you can learn dressed like this. People can be easily swayed by a pretty face,” Aya returned to the silly voice for the moment though in a mocking tone this time, “If it displeases you, my lord, perhaps you prefer a different look if that is your will.” Aya performed a few hand gestures that Shadros recognized for the ninja mudras for the water spell, Suiton. A pillar of water shot up around her and when it disappear she was in a new attire which Shadros recognized as the standard Ninja Garb used in the east.  

Shadros noticed the water from her spell spreading out on his floor and grumbled, “Was that really necessary?” Aya stated clearly, returning to a more professional tone, “Well… no but it adds some flair to a boring job.”  Aya crossed her arms continuing, “Your kind of hard guy to find you know that?  I’ve been looking for you for days.” Shadros sat his chair back up clearly having had enough of her nonsense and stated plainly, “Will you just get to the point already?” Aya chuckled some, “I haven’t found this Wasp sect you are referring to but I did get some info on the group itself.   They call themselves the Hymn Venom order.  As far as I can tell, they’re not part of the main core of the Lambs of Dalamud but kind of a splinter group.  They were exiled from the main line shortly before the calamity.” Shadros crossed his arms and looked at her, “Weird that a blood cult like the Dalamuds would have objection to any belief or one that exists that would find appalling.” Aya waved her hand somewhat dismissively, “Not really the case. The cult worships lesser moon, Dalamud, and the voidsent they summon tends to be more for fulfilling that worship.   It seems the Hymn Venom order was less interested in the religious aspect of the cult and became more obsessed with the voidsent themselves. Their main goal is slowly becoming how to summon more and more powerful voidsent.   As you can guess, this did not go well with the rest of dogmatic order who viewed their obsession as blasphemy.   However, with the more powerful voidsent on their side it allowed them to protect themselves from the main group regardless of their smaller numbers. As such, they were left alone and exiled from the group. Apparently they continued their activity with the disguise of the Lambs however, basically allowing the main group to take the fall for most of their experiments.” Shadros stood up before asking, “So if you don’t know where they are then the trail has gone cold?” Shadros paused a moment before continuing, “Or is there something more to it?” Aya smugly put her on single hand on her hip, “Of course there is more to it.  What do you take me for? I have a lead you might be interested in.    At one time it is believed that the Hymn Venom order was involved in the affairs at Tam Tara Deepcroft prior Operation Archon. Apparently since the last incident in that area, the Wood Wailers have been investigating the area. According to my sources, some documents were left behind due to the restless spirits in the area that forced them to abandon the investigation.   Rumor is those documents are still there.” Shadros listened quietly having been involved in that ‘recent incident’ at the Deepcroft, he wasn’t surprised that the Wood Wailers would quickly abandon that place.  That was one adventure he would prefer not to remember.   Aya shrugged, “That place is still crawling with monsters so I couldn’t investigate further on my own. I’m good but I have my limits.  However, I figure that’s something someone like you would have no issue addressing.” Shadros took a deep breath and let out a sigh, “The Deepcroft is no place to play, but I just can’t bring any group to that place on this type of mission.” Shadros thought for a moment before saying, “I do know of a Dragoon that owes me a favor or two to accompany me. He’s a bit dense but he’ll keep his mouth shut as long as he’s paid well.”  He thought for another moment and sighed coming to the obvious conclusion, “I suppose I should bring Una in on the matter, she is at least an adequate healer as a whole in addition of her skills as a Bard.” Aya grinned, “This should be amusing.  I might as well tag along and see this through to the end.” Shadros stood up gesturing lightly at her hoping he didn’t regret this later, “Very well.  We’ll meet up in three days’ time in front of the entrance to Deepcroft.   Hopefully, I should be done with you once this is over with.” Aya rolled her eyes and said in a sarcastic tone, “My, my… my feelings are hurt.” Shadros turned his back on the Doman Ninja, “Just go, and try not to make yourself so damn obvious.” Aya would invoke a smoke screen and vanish filling the room with a faint smoky odor.   Shadros just grumbled some about the mess before going to find a mop to clean up the water left by her Suiton spell.   Shadros had only spoken to Una a few times since the previous incident and had been kind of stand offish with her as of late.   After finishing cleaning up, he decided to go speak with her.   After all, what’s the worst that could happen?  She couldn’t possibly still be mad at him, could she?

“Ow! Ow!   Una let go of my face!” Shadros had finally found Una at the market boards in the center of the Goblet but he couldn’t be anymore wrong about her not being mad.   As soon as she was in range she pinched and pulled on Shadros’ right cheek stretching his face out as far as it would physically allow.

Una hissed in an irritable manner, “You avoid me for weeks and the first thing you do is come here to ask a favor? You have a lot of nerve you entitled arsehole!”   She pinched his left cheek with her other hand also stretching it out simultaneously with the right making pain somewhat unbearable to continue to tolerate. As a Paladin, Shadros was used dealing with pain and normally would be unaffected by what Una did.   However having his skin continually stretched in that matter was clearly getting on Shadros’ nerves.  Having had enough Shadros grabbed Una’s cat like ears and pulled on them which made her screech, “Yeowch!  Hands off you bastard!” Shadros growled, “You first, cat girl!” Shadros pulled on her ears some more.  He had completely forgotten why he there for a moment once again allowing his interaction with Una devolving into pettiness and childish behavior.  

Una squeaked as Miq’ote ears were pretty sensitive to be pulled on, “What a cheap shot.  You call yourself the Warrior of Light and you resort to cheap shots!?  Hero of Eorzea, my ass!” She proceeded to drive her leg in between his.  Though his Paladin armor was fairly tough and the lower region was fairly well padded it was unavoidable that was going to hurt. Shadros slid down to a kneeling position with a horsed groan.  Shadros could hear Una laughing at him now, which only made him angrier.   In the moment, in act of vengeful immaturity, Shadros managed to get ahold of Una’s Tail and gave it a solid yank.  For a Miq’ote, that was probably about as painful as what Una had just done to him. Una yelped loudly and gripped the base of where her tail met her body, hopping a few times in place before leaning against a fence post, whimpering some from the stinging pain.   The two finally stopping moving and just stayed still for a few minutes while they worked out the pain. Shadros groaned beginning to push himself back up, “I think the pain has overwhelmed whatever anger I just had.” Una whimpered and obviously had little fight left for the moment, “Shadros, that’s fighting dirty, you creep!” Shadros groaned, “Look who’s talking Miss Low-blow.” The two would stay quiet for a while before Shadros grumbled, “Are you done being a brat now?” Una grumbled back, “If it will keep my tail in place then I will play along.” Una let go of her tail and crossed her arms leaning against the fence post, “So what do you want Shadros?” Shadros said, “I came to ask your assistance on a venture.   I need to investigate the depths of Tam Tara Deepcroft again.

Una lurched back at the mention of that place, “W-Why would you want to go back to that place?   Don’t you remember what happened the last time we agreed to go into that Hellhole?” She clearly remembered the Edda incident and Shadros was no more interested in reliving those events then she did.

Shadros crossed his arms, “Nothing like that. There is something I need to find that is rumored to be there.  Believe me, it doesn’t fill me with any amount of joy but I don’t have any other option.   This may be the only clue I have.” Una looked at Shadros, her expression of annoyance faded to confusion, “Clue to what exactly?   Shadros, you’re beginning to worry me.   You’re being even more secretive and withdrawn than usual.   If you want my help you better start giving me some answers.” Shadros sighed some putting his hand on the hilt of the Excalibur, “I am trying to find answers to my past… before Ul’dah… before all of this.” Una ears tilted down a little when he said that, “You still don’t remember anything do you?” Una remember the day she met Shadros in the alleyways of Ul’dah.   Though it was your average scrap against some arrogant punks, it was the way Shadros looked that was etched into her memory.   Shadros eyes were completely empty and seemed void of everything.  It was as if his mind had been wiped clean and he had been acting entirely on instinct.   She had never seen a person in that condition. All Una knew is that something horrible likely had happened to him that day before she encountered him. “Are you sure really sure you want to remember?  The past isn’t always what it’s cut out to be.” Shadros turned his gaze away some, “Certain factors have revealed partial information that I can no longer ignore.   I need to find the truth one way or another.  If you want to not go that’s fine.” Una shifted her body slightly. As much as she fought and argued with Shadros, she did know him extremely well and could tell when he was being sincere about an issue.   Una wouldn’t admit it out loud but she had to stand by his side through this troubling time.  “All right Shadros.   Sounds annoying as hell but I’m in.   What do you need me to do?” Shadros turned back to her, “I’ve hired a Doman Ninja by the name of Aya to assist with the venture.  I thought I’d bring Drakkon in as well.” Una squinted her eyes, “Why Drakkon?  I can’t stand the guy.” Shadros crossed his arms, “Because when it comes to battle he’ll get the job done and won’t ask too many questions.   We just need someone to be to prepare to heal if something goes wrong down there.   You’ve been practicing your skills as a White Mage have you not?” Una shrugged some, “Enough to keep people from dying I suppose.   All right, I suppose I can put up with the situation…” She gave Shadros a bit of an aggressive glare, “But if he touches my ass again I’m stringing him up by his legs do you understand?” Shadros chuckled lightly, “Very well.” Shadros returned to his normal composure, “Regardless both Aya and Drakkon aren’t exactly people I would depend on in a pinch.  It means enough for me to having you watching my back.” Una grumbled some and turned her head away as she blushed, “Will you not say such embarrassing things?  I said I’m going to do it and I will do it!”

Shadros nods, “Very well then we will meet again in three days,” He gave her a small smile and said, “Thank you again Una.” Shadros would turn and leave her be. Una grumbled and blushed more, “When did he start saying nice things like that?   Seriously!  What did this guy do with the real Shadros?”

Three days would go by fairly quickly for Shadros.   He arrived at the Deepcroft entrance at the arranged time.   Appearing to be the first to arrive, Shadros leaned against the wall in front the entrance merely waiting and wondering if Aya would even remember she had something to do today.  Not quite understanding how a shinobi could gather such difficult information while being as absent minded as she was or whether this whole persona she displayed was part of her act, he couldn’t really tell either way.   Regardless since he was paying her he hoped she would be more reasonable.

“Yo!  Shadros!” A voice called out snapping Shadros out of his daze.   Shadros looks up to see Drakkon walking into the area.   Drakkon was a rather scruffy looking Highlander that Shadros had worked with from time to time, though he didn’t particularly know much about the man outside of that.   The darkly armored Ala Mhigian could be brash and his fondness for women tended to get him in trouble on multiple occasions.   However, his skills with the lance could not be understated.

Shadros stood back up straight, “Good of you to make it.” He said rather plainly. Drakkon smacked Shadros’ shoulder in a heartily matter, “Good to see you. How are ya hardcase!?” Shadros grumbled some to himself, Drakkon tendency to be so cheerful and optimistic in the face of everything all the time always was something that pushed Shadros’ patience anytime he found himself working with the guy.  Drakkon chuckled, “What no sarcasm or snarky remarks?   You must be a good mood today.” Shadros groaned and shoves Drakkon off of his shoulder, “Ahh, back off already ever heard space, you blockhead.” Drakkon just laughed heartily at Shadros’ slight act of aggression.   Shadros simply resisted the urge to find out how much of an impact the Aegis would have on the Highlander’s face, “Just be quiet for a bit will you, once the Doman woman gets here I assure you there will be enough idiocy to go around.”

Drakkon chuckled with a shrug of his shoulders, “Sounds fun, anyway, what we are doing here exactly?  You hired me for this but didn’t really explain it.”   Shadros would lean back against the wall again, “We are seeking out some documents that were left here by the Lambs of Dalumnd.   According to Aya’s finding, these documents were left in the middle segment of the croft after to the Edda incident. Though the Deepcroft has mostly been quiet since then, the Twin Addler’s inability to return to the matter has allowed it to become repopulated with monsters again. It’s not quite as dangerous as the ones that were there prior though.   Our main task is simply to clear a path to the documents and stay alive mostly.” Drakkon chuckled punching his left palm with his right fist, “Beating down some monsters to get ahold of cultist books? Can do.   Though isn’t that kind of material usually outlawed?” Shadros simply waved his hand dismissively at his question as if to have Drakkon shush about that matter.   Drakkon chuckled some, “You’re still hiding something though.   These are no ordinary books are they?” Shadros said, “Unlikely to be anything of particular value to anyone other than myself.”  Drakkon seem confused by that statement, if the books weren’t valuable for any purpose, why bother?   Of course, Drakkon always found Shadros odd even among hard case adventurers.   Drakkon decided to drop the case as he could tell Shadros had no intention of telling him the specific reason.   Instead Drakkon smirked some and smacked him in the shoulder again.

“So this Aya chick you hired?  Is the spy work all you hire her for or…” Drakkon start to say. Shadros glared at Drakkon, “One suggestion of any kind and you’ll be eating sheet metal, understood?”

Drakkon chuckled and backs off again, “Gees, Shadros can you ever have fun with anything?   I mean all that time with Una and you haven’t even gotten a feel up on her? Bet that she would be a good…” Shadros glanced at him and interrupted, “I’d watch your tongue if I were you.   Una is still pissed at you for the last time you tried to get a ‘feel up’ on her… I will not be responsible if she literally rips your tongue out of your mouth this time” Drakkon laughed, “I’d have almost forgotten about that. It took weeks for those scratch marks on my face to heal after she clawed it up good… totally worth it though.  That Miqo’te is a fiery one.”  

Shadros just grumbled to himself. It bothered him to listen to Drakkon talk about Una like that but he just let it go, “I do not have time for such nonsense…”

Aya’s voice and giggle emerged from the darkness, “That’s probably a good thing. Someone as stiff as you would never lighten up enough to get any attention from a woman anyway.” Aya dropped in from the ceiling.   Shadros didn’t know where exactly she came from or how she did that but he did not care to ask.   Drakkon glanced up and down the Ninja’s body before commenting, “Very nice.” Shadros only groaned knowing well enough that it wasn’t her skill that Drakkon was admiring, rather the tight fitted and curve revealing ninja outfit that Aya was wearing.   Shadros never really understood why the Eastern Ninja garb for men of literally covered everything while the female version clearly designed to show cleavage and to display the upper part of their legs.  

Aya merely winked at Highlander rather mischievously, “Well, at least someone here recognizes excellence when he sees it.”  The whole thing made Shadros want to hurl frankly.   He simply wished for Una to arrive soon before the two drove him crazy.   It did help to remind him why he and Una had partnered for as long as they had.   For all their bickering and fighting they at least worked well together when things got serious.

Una would arrive on the scene dressed in the standard white robes with red diamonds patterns that was common for White Mages of Eorzea as well as the wooden staff she used as her weapon when she healing, “Hey Shadros, I’m here.” She moved her way towards the group.   Una wasn’t used to moving in the robes so she was a bit slower than normal.   Shadros seemed a bit confused as Una normally didn’t wear such long robes as she usually preferred lighter clothes for mobility sake.   In fact it was rare for Una to wear anything covered all of her skin period. Drakkon grinned and approached Una from behind, “Well hello there, Kitten.  Those robes really don’t suit you well.” Una lurched back some growling, “One wrong move Drakkon and I’m bashing your skull in!” Drakkon put his hands up in surrender, “Chill the claws there, Kitten.  Is that anyway to greet a friend?” Una groaned and her ears lowered slightly, “Shadros, do we really have to do this?”

Shadros just said, “We will try to get this over with quickly.  All right?” Una would nod and try to move forward accidently tripping on an unstable tile.   Shadros managed to catch her and stop her from falling, “Una, are all right?” He asked plainly. Una grumbled, “I hate these robes!” She blushed and moved away from Shadros quickly mostly to the hide the fact that she was blushing. Shadros simply shrugged and moved along with her

Aya put a finger to her chin, “Are these two always this thick?” Drakkon chuckled, “Only for as long as I’ve known them.”  The two would follow them forward.  The four would make their way into the Deepcroft entrance, coming out to the dimly lit tunnels of the Deepcroft.   Even though the vile air surrounding the Deepcroft has declined since the Edda incident, there was still a foulness to the air that still made Shadros’ stomach turn.   Shadros didn’t have time to think about it further as he suddenly forced to raise his shield to deflect the sting of a Diremite before swiping at the vilekin with his sword. Drakkon jump upward and skewered the Diremite’s head with his lance at once it was away from Shadros.

“Didn’t take long to draw attention did it?” Drakkon chuckled.

Shadros said, “I’m pretty sure that comes with the title…” The four would proceed down the path, dispatching the vilekin that stood in their way, though they would be trouble for any standard adventurer against this experienced group they were of little concern.  Shadros would stopped at the edge of one of the paths that looks like it had been destroyed by falling rocks since the last time he had been here.  

“Looks like this place is even more decrepit then it was before.” Shadros commented.

Una frowned, “The voidsend that were here before did a number on this place…”

Drakkon looks over the edge some, “Eh… I think I could jump that chasm.” Shadros groaned, “Don’t be an idiot even if you could it won’t do any good for you to run off on your own.  If I recall right there are hallways that go between these areas,” Shadros moved to one of the boarded off room kicking through to reveal the path ahead.   “We should be able to navigate to the next section from here but it’s likely unstable so we’ll need to be careful.” They would make their way slowly into the tunnel, cautiously walking down the path.  However, as they made their way Aya would stop for a moment.

“Do you guys smell sulfur?” Aya asked.

Drakkon stopped tilting his head slightly to side, “You know it does it does smell familiar.” Shadros groaned some recognizing it immediately. Angling his head upward slowly, his eyes slid to gaze at a glowing Bomb that was jammed between some of the rocks in the ceiling. Though it was glowing faintly it appeared to be active enough, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” The bomb gave an angry look at the four but didn’t seem angry enough to invoke a self-destruct, “We need to move quietly and quickly.” Drakkon chuckled some, “That thing is so small.  What’s it going to do puff out a bit of smoke?” He would proceed to prod the bomb with the flat end of his lance a couple of time.   The bomb glowed more brightly and began to grow larger cracking the stone around it.  It was growing far larger than it should have been able to. Aya began to run, “Good time to get out of here!” Shadros also began to run, “God damnit, Drakkon!” They would rush through the hallway as the bomb exploded causing the tunnel to start collapsing around them.  Shadros grabbed Una’s arm as they rush back out into the hallway of the Deepcroft, quickly diving off to side as a large amount of debris blew out from the corridor they just came out of. Drakkon sat back up rubbing his head looking at the three a bit sheepishly, “Uh… my bad?”   Una noticed Shadros was holding onto her.  She quickly broke free from his grasp in a slightly panicked manner wondering what was wrong with her today. To work out her frustration, Una got up from where was and proceeded to whack Drakkon over the head with her staff, “Anymore stunts like that and your personally going to find out how deep that chasm goes, head first!”

Drakkon groaned rubbing his head, “Kitten has such claws.”

Shadros simply stood back up glancing ahead, “There will be time for that later, we have company. Ready yourselves!” Several dozen vilekin that were disturbed by the resulting explosion descended upon the group. Aya screamed, “This is absolutely disgusting!”

Shadros groaned, “You decided to act like a normal women now of all times? Stop freaking out and fight!” Shadros said as he cleaved through a large beetle.   The group would fight off the vilekin but they seemed to be coming out of the cracks in the walls faster than they could be slain.    Shadros shouted, “We need to get out of this confine space! Shield your eyes!  Flash!” Shadros raised his sword chanting a moment before the area was engulfed in white light, “Run!”  The group would begin to move reaching the central area on a lower floor but the vilekin were still coming.   Shadros growled looking around before spotting a loose rock formation above the pathway, “Una! The rock formation!”

Una looked in the direction Shadros was and stated, “Got it!” Una chanted sending a large stone in the direction of the loose rocks causing them to break loose and block the entrance to the path trapping the Vilekin inside.

Drakkon groaned some, “Well that was something…”

Aya grumbled, “Gross, I’ve got Vilekin guts on my uniform.”

Shadros sighed, “Just keep it together for right now.   We’re not done yet.” Shadros recognized the area where the cultists had gathered during his first trip into the area.    However, this time there were no Voidsent to greet them and no light to extinguish rather there were a stack of crates and a Fallen Orb, a violet spherical construct one he recognized both from Haukke Manor and Amdapor Keep.  Two others places impacted by the Voidsend in the past.   Aya eyed the crates, forgetting her vilekin guts crisis for the moment, “Well, all and all it could have been worse. Those has to be the crates the Woods Wailers had gathered before they were forced to abandon the place.  We’ve found them!”

Una sighed with relief, “Then let’s get what Shadros came for and get out of this place.” Shadros would nod and began to approach the crates but the familiar voice of Midgardsormr suddenly sounding in his mind made him slow, “Face thy reality, mortal.” Shadros stopped as the inactive Fallen Orb suddenly sprung to life emitting an extremely bright violet light and it began to hover into the air.   Drakkon shielded his eyes, “What the hell is that?   Don’t tell me there are voidsent coming?” Una glanced at the ground after a few moments, “S-Shadros!  What’s with your shadow?” Shadros turned his gaze as his shadow was moving and twisting very strangely and suddenly split in two very different looking shadows, his own and what appeared to be another person.   His eyes widen as the Excalibur seemed to be acting strangely to this as well.   A few of the visions from Excalibur struck him for a moment, disorienting him from what was going on. Drakkon shouted, “Shadros!  Heads up!” A shadowy hand suddenly burst from the orb lunging itself towards Shadros.  He quickly snapped out of his daze raised the Aegis to defend himself but the hand was not aiming for him.  It went past him off to the side and entered the unknown shadow on the ground.   The unknown shadow would fade away before the shadowy hand returned to the Fallen Orb. The orb began grow brighter. Within the light the figure of a woman would take shape and step forward. Not all different from many of the five races, the facial features of the woman were cloaked in darkness. The apparent white horns that flowed straight behind her head were the only feature unable to be concealed by the darkness. A faint blue light where her eyes were located were all that could be seen within the shadows.   The shadowed figure was geared in a black variation of the Gallant gear that Shadros was currently wearing down to the circlet he wore on his head.   Drakkon was, oddly enough, speechless for a moment before spitting out rapidly, “What the hell is that thing!? I’ve never seen a Voidsent or Ashkin that looked like that before.”  The being suddenly held out her hands to her sides and shadows flowed outward from her arms like fire and formed the shape of the Excalibur and Aegis Shield Shadros used but dyed black. Shadros seem stunned at the sight.  Though he could not see the figure’s face, the resemblance to the one in his dreams and visions was undeniable. “… You…”

Aya snapped Shadros out of his daze, “Whatever it is it doesn’t want us proceeding, here it comes!” The figure got her weapons into position and charged at the group.   Shadros snapped to attention drawing his weapon to counter the shadow.   When Shadros tried to strike she moved out of the way. The shadow seemed to be matching every move he was making as if she could read all of his thoughts.   Aya and Drakkon moved in as well.  Drakkon manage to get behind her and tried to thrust his lance through her back.   When Drakkon made contact the lance went no further. Shadros was suddenly surrounded by a strange dark energy and suddenly felt like he received an electric shock in the exact same location that Drakkon struck the shade.   Much to Drakkon confusion as the shadow didn’t even flinch. Aya threw a Shuriken into the shadow’s shoulder.   Shadros shouted out as the energy zapped him again. “Gaugh!!!” Shadros snapped.    The shadow would turn back smacking Drakkon with a Shield Bash while he was surprised by the situation. Drakkon growled stumbling back a bit, “What’s in the seven hells is going on?  Nothing is hurting this thing!”

Una shouted at the two, “Stop attacking, you idiots!  All your damage is just being redirected to Shadros!”

Aya winced, “Whoops, if physical attacks don’t work then maybe!” She quickly invoke a couple of hand signs, “Raiton!” A bolt of lightning would strike down on the shadow but once again Shadros was the one who was shocked and shouted out as a result.  Aya put her hand to her mouth, “Oops, that’s wasn’t what I was trying to do.”  Una quickly managed to get a healing spell off on Shadros allow him to snap out of it to once again block the shadow’s attacks.   Shadros growled some, he had no explanation for why he was taking the attacks done to her but he knew something had to be causing it.   Shadros turned his gaze for a moment notice the orb was still glowing.   Hovering in the area above the fight and teleporting around every few moments.   He shouted to Aya and Drakkon, “It’s that orb! The orb has to be powering this apparition.  We’re attacking the wrong target” He would block another attack from the shadow. “Leave the shadow to me!   Take out that orb!”   The shadow would jump upward and slam back down to the ground releasing random pillars of light around her, pushing them all away.  The shadow would once again move in on Shadros forcing him to parry another slash from the shadow.  

Aya acknowledged Shadros’ words, “Leave it to us!  Una, we’ll be fine, just make sure Shadros stays on his feet!” Una shouted between spell casts, “You don’t need to tell me that!”

Drakkon would move to the side trying to thrust at the orb but it move out of the way of the attack. It was moving too fast for him to properly register. Aya tried to strike from a distance with more shurikens but it did the same thing.   Aya growled to herself, “This is annoying no matter how fast I attack it moves out of the way.” Drakkon glanced at the orb, “You’re a Ninja aren’t you?    Don’t you have a few tricks up those tightly laced sleeves of yours?” Aya blinked a few times thinking for a moment, “Tightly laced… trick… binding, that’s it, that might just work!” She formed her hand signs for Ten and Jin.   She released the binding ice around the orb holding it still.   Drakkon would take the hint and quickly rush forward invoking all of his power before leaping up and diving down on the confined orb, his lance shattering the orb to pieces. The shadow stumbles back some before Shadros spun around thrusting his weapon into the shade’s torso. The shadow’s form would begin to crack.  As it did, there was a female voice that spoke when Shadros was closed enough to the figure, “Do not seek me anymore Shadros, if you find me, it will cost you everything.” The shadow reached up and touched Shadros’ cheek for a moment before falling and bursting into violet light.   The split shadow appeared for a moment behind Shadros again before fusing into one again.   Shadros was taken aback by the shadow’s words frozen in place.

Una quickly moved to Shadros’ side, “Shadros, are you okay?   What just happened?” Shadros blinked a few times looking forward some as if something just popped into his mind, “… Kari…?” Una looked perplexed, “Kari?  What’s a Kari?”

Aya and Drakkon returned the weapons to their proper place, gesturing in victory as they felt their mission was a success.   Shadros just closed his eyes taking a deep breath.   He didn’t feel like celebrating. They glance ahead as an Aetheral exit appeared where the shadow was much like it did with other previous missions.  

Una looked him beginning to realize that Kari wasn’t a thing but rather a person, “Shadros, who is Kari?” She asked with a tone of demand in her voice.

Shadros didn’t answer her question rather he would move over to the crate opening it up.   Digging through the contents he pulled out a book with the same Wasp emblem he had been looking for.

“This is what I needed, we’re done here.” Shadros simply stated before going into the exit with Aya and Drakkon following behind.   Una started to make her way to the exit as well, she paused and looked towards the spot where the shadow had been moments ago.

“Who’s Kari?  Why does Shadros seem so… sad?” Una’s ears flattened some as she exited as well.

When they appeared back at the entrance of the Deepcroft, Shadros paid Drakkon and Aya what he promised.

Aya chuckled, “Wonderful doing business with you, good sir.  It’s been fun but I think I’ve had enough of death cults, dark caves, and vilekin guts to last me awhile.” Drakkon chuckled some approaching Aya, “Well, it was entertaining to work with someone like you, perhaps you’d like to work with me a bit more often?” Aya smirked at Drakkon, “If you retain my interest maybe, but for now you don’t therefore…” Aya smirked and a burst of smoke surrounded her causing Drakkon to cough some as Aya was now gone. Drakkon chuckled some not seeming too discouraged, “Denied.   I suppose I will just need to try harder the next time I see you.”  Drakkon turned noticing Shadros and Una hadn’t said a word since they exited the cave.   There was something that bothered Drakkon though, “Shadros, your acting odd it’s not like you to hesitate when there is an enemy in front of you.   Do you know what that thing we fought was?” Drakkon asked.

Shadros shook his head, “Maybe… maybe not.   I’m not entirely sure at this point.”

Una gave Shadros a scowl, “For not being sure you obviously knew her name…”

Shadros looked at Una in an annoyed fashion, “I stated a name.   I don’t know if the name is accurate or has any actual meaning.  It might just be a figment of my imagination for all I know.” Una frowned some putting a hand to her chest for a moment lowering her head, “Please Shadros… please stop pursuing this.   I have a bad feeling about this whole thing.” Shadros closed his eyes, “I can’t do that Una.” Una growled some, “Why not?   Why are you dwelling some much of the past instead of your future?  Why are you such an… Argh!” Una paused and growled as if she wanted to say something else but then spat out, “You know what fine, do whatever you want but don’t ask me to help you with this mess again.” Shadros watched as Una suddenly began to rush away and out of the Deepcroft.   Shadros expected her to hit him or react violently but instead she just left.   Shadros wondered what was going on with her.

Drakkon observed the situation, “You two are acting stranger than usual. Shadros, what are you caught in the middle of?” Shadros simply began to walk away but he did state as he left, “That I don’t know… hopefully this,” He held up the book, “Will help me find out.” Shadros thought back to the words the shadow had said before he returned to Goblet to study the documents. Section 1 - Chapter 2: Into the Nexus of Madness Final Fantasy XIV: Azure and Crimson Complete 

Section 1 - Chapter 4: Truth Revealed, Identity Echoes

[saibh29]

Peace and Quiet

Pairings: Bellamy / Reader

Warnings: Swearing.. general... 

AN: Still not much to say really. Building myself to more regular posts from one a week to two a week and so on. 

Love you all and your messages keep me strong. xx

@the-chosen-one-time-lord @no-other-names-availible-blog @angelaiswriting @selldraug @Angryares @thenovarose @georgiagrl1990 @punk-rock-5-sos @mindofthescattered @dontstopxx @iamabeautifulperson18 @madelinecraig03 @ka-x-in @im-hurric4ne @mesmericbell @something--awesome @weirdpotato-14 @putinontheritzz @soulslaststand @fuckthatfeeling @ember1201 @morganlb23 @aya-fay @maria-tifa @kitkatbadass @cordelia-stark-jones @tomhopperarms @fakingintrest @artprincessbree @dreamer-lover-laughter @artprincessbree @rime-warrior @captainvaneswife @jaib2-blog @kapolisradomthoughts @thingsandstuffienjoy @letsgetfuckingsuperwholocked @aya-fay @itsbubbaog @hp-hogwartsexpress @emmykinzs @thatbadassunicorn @sassywingednightmare @coffeebooksandfandom @diaryoftherealme @blusnowflakee @ineedyourloveandsupport @neverunderestimateacelt @kalliria @cynicalricin (and Roan) @itsbubbaog @demoninyourshadow @xoxoalisonjane @bubbly-binka @justsomeboringperson @emmykinzs @lifeisforlosers @aurelche

You weren’t far enough away from the walls to be in danger you were after all still within range of the guards in the tower. What you’d needed though was peace, a breath of air that wasn’t filled with shouts, demands and instances that she do something for them.

When you’d come down to Earth all that time ago you’d been on of the few who thought of it as a blessing. The sudden quiet and lack of noise on the surface was your idea of heaven. But now with the arrival of the Ark and the setting up of Arkadia the noise was back and your head felt like it was about to break apart.

Letting your head fall back against the tree you’d sat under you stared up at the sky, mottled with the leaves of the tree. The sky was peaceful, smooth and unchanging today. You wished desperately to share in that peace.

“Y/N? What are you doing outside of the walls?”

You closed your eyes at the voice intruding in your quiet. You weren’t stupid, you’d known that someone would follow you outside, that you weren’t going to be able to be free for long. You’d hoped though that you would have had slightly longer.

“Y/N?”

“I heard you the first time Blake” you muttered refusing to open your eyes though and look at him. “I’m in the range of the guns after all”

“Not the point Y/N” Bellamy said flatly he’d come even closer and his shadow blocked the sunlight from your face and finally made your eyes open to look up at him towering above you. His features were shaded from the sunlight shining around him but you could imagine the frown on his face. Were in fact very familiar with the frown he could get on his face when he looked at you.

“Blake this is the only 30 minutes I’ve found this whole week to be on my own and sit in silence. Don’t you dare ruined this for me”

“You couldn’t find quiet within the walls?”

“No”

Bellamy sighed and moved out of the sunlight dropping down beside you leaning his arms on his raised-up knees and staring back into the camp. “It’s not been easy for you has it?” he asked, he’d framed it as a question but in reality, it wasn’t, it was much more of a statement.

“What exactly?”

Bellamy sent you a look that you knew meant he knew you were simply trying to avoid the question and that you did in fact know exactly what he was referring to.

“The Ark arriving, the camp being set up here and us all being brought back into the life here”

One corner of your mouth turn up in a small smile. “Well then no” you answered “none of that has been… we can stay with easy”

“Aren’t you happy to see your family again?” Bellamy asked with a curious tilt to his head. “Your father?”

“Would you be happy to see the man who locked you up? The man who threw you in jail knowing that in 6 months time you’d be floated?”

“Well when you put in that way”

You’d upset him, that much was obvious from the tightening of his shoulders and the fact he was no longer looking at you but staring back out into camp. Watching the movement of the guards as they patrolled the fence.

Sighing you reached out and nudged his shoulder. “Sorry, I’ll dial down the sarcasm. It wasn’t meant for you Blake” he didn’t look back at you but the tension did bleed out of his body. You stayed leaning against his side slightly as you joined him in watching the patrol of the guards along the perimeter of Arkadia. “sometimes I wish we could just go back to the drop ship. Back to when our biggest issue was dealing with grounders and finding enough food. It was almost easier that way”

“You’re not the only one who misses that”

“Is that an admission Blake?” you teased “are you actually agreeing with me on something?”

“It had to happen eventually”

You laughed softly as his arm wiggled out from where you were leaning and wrapped around your shoulders holding you into his side

“All this politics again Blake. I thought I’d escaped it when I got arrested. Thought I wouldn’t have to deal with all the scheming and back stabbing anymore”

“You’re a former councillors daughter Y/N you were always going to be involved”

“Even when I don’t want to be”

He looked down at you again this time an ironic twist to his mouth “especially then”

The two of you lapsed into silence again after that simply sat together watching. His arm around you like this and you resting against him would not be a sight that all in camp were happy about. More specifically your recently arrived father. Marcus Kane had not been impressed to find out his daughter had decided to ‘take up’ with the man who shot the chancellor. Unfortunately for him the moment he had let you be arrested and taken to the sky box was the moment he had lost all control and influence over you forever more.

He seemed to think that he could pick up exactly where you had left off on the Ark. Like nothing had happened and you would simply fall in and follow his rules and edicts perfectly. He had been in for a shocking surprise. You were not following his rules and in fact were breaking more than a few.

“How long are you going to keep escaping?”

“That depends”

“On what?” he sounded suspicious, not that you blamed him for that. “Y/N on what?”

“How long my father continues to be an obnoxious asshat”

You could see that Bellamy tried and failed to hide his smile at your insults towards Marcus. “Ass hat?” you simply shrugged as Bellamy sighed rubbing a hand over his face. “It could be a while then if you’re waiting for that eventuality”

“Why Blake are you admitting my father is indeed a superior fucking idiot?”

“In some regards, yes” Bellamy’s face turned worried. “They don’t understand this earth that they’ve arrived on and they’re treating us all as children whose opinions don’t count. Never mind the fact that we’ve been here, living here, surviving here for all this time”  

“We have to find a way to get the others out of that mountain Bell” you pulled away from him now, instead wrapping your arms around yourself. “For once I’m in agreement with Clarke. We need to start putting together a plan an acting on it. Not sitting here like lemons waiting for them to attack us”

“Like lemons?” Bellamy snorted “You are full of metaphors today”

“Bell please… tell me the truth here. Tell me you agree with me”

He sighed eyes finally moving away from the fence and turning back to you. There were dark circles under his eyes that hadn’t been there a few weeks ago. A faint trace of lines that extended from his mouth revealing a tension that never quite left him.

Eventually he nodded once. “I agree with you Y/N of course I do. I hate having our friends trapped in there with us powerless to know what’s happening. I’m as stuck as you though in trying to help them. What do we do? What do you suggest we do? We have no weapons, no allies and no way of knowing how to go about even getting close to mount Weather”

“I suggest that we stop sitting around doing nothing” you snapped your temper starting to fray. “I suggest that for once Clarke may be right and we need to listen to Lexa. We need to find a way to work together”

“You want to work with the grounders?”

“I never said ‘want’” in fact it was on the very bottom of the list in regards to what you wanted to do. Unlike Clarke you didn’t trust Lexa one bit. She would do what was best for her own people and if that meant selling out the sky people invaders than she would do it without the least bit of hesitation. You could almost respect her for that, the unflinching way she would hurt whoever needed to keep her people safe.

“You know you’re more like Kane than you’d ever want to admit Y/N”

“Take that back right now Blake” you warned, eyes narrowing. When he simply smiled you elbowed him sharply in the side rolling into his body until he had no choice but to lean onto his back with you getting on top of him. “I am not like my father”

“Actually you are” he lifted his hands to frame your face pushing away hair that had fallen there as you leant over him. “You’re strong Y/N, your impulsive and you have this way of making everyone around you feel important and like they’re needed. You’re a leader and its why you end up running away out here, because people won’t leave you alone”

“I’m no leader”

“You lead me” he whispered twisting without warning so you were the one underneath him now. “I would follow you anywhere, into hell if necessary”

“Bell…”

He smiled softly “We’ll find a way to get them out of Mount Weather. All of them. I promise”

“I believe you” you admitted arms going up and around his neck. “You know I came out here for some peace and quiet. You interrupted that”

“Oh, how shall I make it up to you?”

Smiling you pulled him down closer to you “I can think of a few ways”

His answering smirk to your words was hidden by your lips connecting together and peace reigned in your mind once more, this time though of a very different kind.

[nobilism]

⏤ ♞ ;;

Send me a number from 1-500 and I’ll tell you how I feel about you in a post without anyone knowing your identity.

333

Homie. Homie. Homie. We gonna have to sit you down ‘cuz I’m sure this post is gonna be a mother fucking doozy. 

God. Hello. I love you so much. Thank you for being a gem and an absolute light in my life for this past month and some weeks. I was so nervous at first when I made my Tsukasa blog. I said it in another one of these meme posts how I came into this comm knowing no one. It was so god damn nerve wracking. I messaged my friend Deen being like “HOW DO I MAKE FRIENDS OR FIND PPL TO RP WITH?” and of course Deen was a little bitch and said “Just look for promo posts” NO FUCKING SHIT. This bitch. I’m gonna punch her when I see her for new years and then delete her Todoroki blog.

But I went from being in a very comfortable and knowing a good number of ppl to knowing no one at all and that was really hard. I was plagued with self doubt how no one would want to play with my Tsukasa. I was sure everyone had someone they liked already and wouldn’t give me the time of day. IDK if you noticed yet, but I’m hyper critical of myself. haha 

So to dive in like I did, it was so hard. I was so nervous. I think back at it now, but I definitely had some sort of wall up when I first started this blog. ‘Cuz some pretty shitty things happened to me this year in terms of friends, so I guess I was also just kinda nervous letting my guard down too. I wanted to make friends, but putting myself out there was really hard. I definitely said things like pls feel free to message me, but then I couldn’t bring myself to message people myself ‘cuz I was so afraid of putting myself out there and just facing rejection from the get go. 

But then you came into the picture. 

If you were to ask me if I followed you first or if you followed me, I wouldn’t be able to tell you. All I know is I was suddenly following you and I’m so happy that you did. I think when you wrote me that first starter I only really solidly had a thread with Gabby’s Aya and Dusty’s Chiaki, and please let us not take this the wrong way ‘cuz I love them both to bits and pieces and I love my threads with them just as much, but I was dying to rp with Knights. And I was mostly dying to rp with a Leo. And you just swooshed into my life and was like “here you go a starter.” I think I was pretty much crying in my room when I saw the starter. 

But not only did you make me feel so welcomed, you also gave me so much confidence in my Tsukasa. 

As we can see, being nervous was quite a theme for me early on. I even made a post about how I was not confident in my portrayal Tsukasa. Saying how I had to step my game up in order to meet all of your standards. It’s like, so silly to think in retrospect that I was saying those things ‘cuz I know no one here was making any sort of demands that I needed to get better. Everyone had been nothing less than kind and understanding, but that was my hyper critical self talking and I felt like I needed to be so much more in order for people to want to interact with me whether on an ic or ooc basis. 

But every time we talked, you always had such wonderful things to say about my Tsukasa. It really did help every time you assured me replies were fine. My length was fine. How you like long threads. How you really enjoy our threads. So on and so forth. It may not seem like much, but every time you said it, I was really touched. I did a couple keyboard smashes I think when I received those compliments, but I def held back on a lot ‘cuz I was like “I need to play it cool. Don’t be that guy.” But Tsukasa is my best boy after all. To do him justice, this is all I ever really wanted when I made this blog. 

It’s not like Tsukasa is too far of a stretch from characters I normally played in the past. But he was different enough where I was constantly plagued by self doubt. And you have single handedly casted away pretty much all of my doubt regarding to how I portray Tsukasa. So thank you for giving me so much confidence, love and acceptance. 

I’m really glad how well our portrayals match up. I’m so glad when I talk to you on discord about stupid shit for Tsukasa and Leo that we are generally speaking always on the same page. The feeling that I feel like I get your Leo and that you get my Tsukasa, it’s so wonderful. 

Thanks for being there when I had my: I CAN’T BELIEVE I SHIP THESE GAYS CRISIS 

When you said “don’t worry megan I ship leokasa too” I swear I heard the choir started playing as angels descended down upon the earth before me. 

Thanks for also saying you’ll come join me on this Animatsu adventure and I venture to the middle of America for the first time and not just stay in the airport ‘cuz I’m only there for a layover to California for AX or some shit. But you know, when I offered for you to come join me and Emma at Animatsu, I didn’t think you would actually say yes, so when you did I was really really happy. We were talking for a total of like what? 2 weeks by that point and we’ve already planned to meet up at a con. That’s really god damn crazy. But I’m happy we were both crazy enough to do it. And I’m really excited to meet you in person and give you the biggest hug ever!

Also another thanks for being open and willing to hear me ramble about stupid things you have no clue what they are like me screaming about Makki and Naoya and other stage things or Marginal#4 or whatever other idol boy bullshit I have brought up. Also thanks for accepting the fate of me just sitting you down at animatsu where I can show you some of these beautiful boys I love. But also get hyped ‘cuz we also sitting down and watching the Knights stage. I’m so excited for you to fall in love with these beautiful boys too. 

So I guess, just thanks for being there for me. And listening to me over whatever dumb bs I had to say. Your sister said thanks for supporting you and stuff, but no, thank you for allowing me to be there for you. It would have been perfectly acceptable if you didn’t share a single thing with me ‘cuz I was like “tell me your deep personal feelings” on the first day we started talking to one another. 

I’ll admit right now, I feel like it was selfish of me to ask you to talk about such things of what was making you upset. I told you how I like helping people and like talking to people. So I feel like I selfishly put those desires on you to talk to me about your problems. I’ve been feeling rather useless at times due to some of these friend issues I’ve been having this year, so I think I kinda pushed that desire of trying to feel useful to someone, anyone, onto you, which probably wasn’t really all that fair of me. 

But I guess in the end despite my selfishness of wanting to feel some amount of selfworth of making a friend happy, things worked out for the best, and we have bonded quite a bit over various things too. 

So I guess sorry for being selfish, but at the same time, I’m not that sorry. haha 

But yeah, thanks for everything you’ve done for me. I’m sure there are plenty more thank yous to come. You have been so good to me since day one. I look forward to what the future holds. Whether they’re rps of heart warming nature, dumb shit posts, heart wrenching pain and misery, or just us having a good time. I look forward to it all. 

Bless you. 

Have a good day. 

I told you this would be long. lololol 

[talesfromthegameff14]

The Stars That Lie to You

[Title shamelessly stolen from the mood music, thank you Stone Sour:  https://youtu.be/i_y-6z02rY8 ] When the letter came from the Bhazkaran in Dunrai’s writing hope and anger mixed together into a potent brew that offered his heart's wish in one hand and absolute fury in the other.  The cycle of a moon hadn’t been enough to reconcile his rage, or Terbish’s fear, or the keening sorrow of a broken oath.  Yet, it was the hope that made him gather up his hunting kit and head out to the Steppes at the time the meeting was requested.  

He didn’t wander on the way up to the tribe’s spring campsite.  Unlike the last few times Aya visited, he’s only polite to the scouts, giving them each a nod and a word of thanks as he was waved through to where life bustled about as if nothing of import was about to happen.  That wasn’t quite right, a few sympathetic looks were cast in the Uyagir’s direction.  However, they were lost to him, his focus on what was to come. 

It was in the dark hours before dawn the next day when Aya left the tribe much the way he came, that perfect mask of Doman politeness firmly in place and very much alone.  

Dunrai wasn’t coming home.

The stars that they swore forever under, the ones that held the tales of the Dazkar, the ones that held the wonder of Nerankhuu and Gantulga for them sparkled in the endless sky above him.  Once they held joy, now they held nothing but lies, taunting him as each step took him further and further away from the man that was once his guiding light.

The light was cracked now, claimed by silver eyes of a goddess that cared nothing for the hearts that were fractured or the lives that would never be the same because of her call.  Duty cared little for such things either.  Aya wasn’t certain he believed what Dunrai spoke so passionately about, but it didn’t matter did it?  His husband did believe, believed enough that he wasn’t coming home.  

Oh he could come home when it was done, but they both knew what wasn’t spoken out loud.  The chance of him surviving such a thing was slim, it had been that way when they joined the Great Hunt to seal the rift that threatened all that dwelled on the Steppes.  The Pack was supposed to swing the odds in the Tribes favor, and they did.  But the cost was too damn high, many survived that day only due to the interference of the silver eyes that haunted Dunrai’s dreams, the Dazkar included.

The victory was hollow though, Dunrai survived only to leave. And what a bitter drink that was to swallow alone under the gaze of the uncaring moon they swore forever under.  Maybe the Uyagir were right to hide in their caves, if the eyes of Azim and Nhaama can’t see them then they can’t be called.

“Fool.”, Aya muttered under his breath, “That isn’t the answer and you know it.”  He stopped at the base of the path that wound up into the hills and finally looked upwards at the vast, mocking sky.  He should go home instead of standing here in the cold and the dark, but he could almost hear the whispers on the wind that dragged at his hair and clothing, tangling his long locks as it whistled past.  It tugged and teased and tried to coax Aya to join it, a race through the rustling grass, the promise of a respite from the anguish that weighed down every step he took.  A reason for his heart to thunder beyond the crushing pain that caused adrenaline to flow as fire in his blood.  There was nothing to fight, nothing to flee from, nothing to chase to bring back home.  

Dunrai wasn’t coming home.

The mask crumbled then, far too weak of a dam to hold back the torrent of despair those four simple words held even as the questions that the wind carried finally echoed in his horns.  

Could you have forgiven him?

Could you have trusted him again?

Was his light strong enough to illuminate the dark without breaking him?  

A howl of wrath and misery tangled with the wind, the inhuman sound that came from Aya’s throat just loud enough to drown out the questions, yet not nearly loud enough to hold all of the grief that wracked his soul.  Tears fell upon the rocky ground, the physical pain of landing hard on his knees unimportant and unheeded.  There was no way to fix this, she took Dunrai from him.  She broke his family.  Again, the visions of the future she claimed to be a gift stole his happiness and left nothing but ash in return.

It was pure defiance that sent Aya’s next tormented cry up towards the moon above, Nhaama’s unblinking eye watching dispassionately from her home in the sky.  It was an empty gesture and he knew it, collapsing in on himself as he pounded his fists against the dusty path.

That was how the Eye of Azim found Ayanga as it rose above the mountains to bring the blessing of warmth and light to the Steppes.  The tears had long run out, exhaustion turning him unnaturally still.  But the xaela was still there on his knees, arms around his middle, hunched over from trying to console himself.  The wounds weren’t there to see, but they bled nonetheless, something essential and unseen soaking into the unyielding earth. Relief colored the look that the Bhazkaran shared as Aya finally lurched up to his feet at the touch of the sun along his crumpled form.   

It was dawn, he should be on the roof of his home with his son and daughter, watching for C’tolemy to arrive at the door from spending the night with the Coeurl.  Dunrai... wasn’t coming home, but he would, for them.  Always for them.  

[fuwafuwamedb]

Utu (Utu, Hakuno, Gilgamesh Archer)

A master needed to distance themselves, summon more servants. It helped servants escape nothingness. It gave them a chance to be free and bond with others. It was an escape and a blessing in so many ways.

Gudako had laid it out quite nicely.

So she had summoned another servant.

The blond sat in the center of the circle, eyeliner emphasizing his lashes and golden boots reminding her of Gil’s armor. That was where the similarities ended though. The moment those blue eyes had opened, she had known that it wasn’t him. The white billowing blouse of a shirt and the black pants had made him look more like a pirate than a king of Babylonia.

And the glare…

No, it reminded her a bit of Gil as well.

“Rider.”

Helpful.

“It’s nice to have you here, Rider,” Hakuno told him a moment before Gudako took a step forward.

“What’s your real name, Rider?”

The man just stared at Gudako a moment before his eyes were back on her. “Aya, why is this woman speaking out of turn?”

Aya?

It must have been a term of endearment. Or perhaps respect.

Hakuno motioned to Gudako, “Please answer her, Rider. We tend to take down names for the records here.”

“A waste of time, although if Aya requests…” He stood up, his heels clicking on the floor as he came over to her. “You should recognize me, Aya.”

Damn…

Was he someone from the Moon Cell?

There had been a lot of servants then.

“Humor me?”

The man sighed.

“I am Utu… or Shamash, if you prefer the Sumerians’ preference of names. The Akkadian name works fine for me though. It is preferable.”

“Utu.”

It didn’t ring any bells.

The man glanced down at her before he waved a hand in Gudako’s direction. “Leave us.”

“Excuse me-“

“I’m going to take Utu and head out. Thank you for your help, Gudako.”

She wasn’t going to stand there and listen to the two bicker at one another. They would be at it all day if she let them. Instead, she pulled the man alongside her, heading for the hallway. She had isolated a couple rooms that would probably work for a new servant.

She could take him to one of-

The man pulled her to a stop, sighing.

“Forgive me, Aya. Finding myself before you has put me in a rather sour mood.”

Hakuno blinked.

A smile came to the man’s face. “I am merely apologizing. I didn’t need to be that way with the other woman. She spoke over you though. She seemed like she was trying to run things-“

“She is the master here.”

“No.” Utu moved forward, pulling her hand into his own. “You are my master. You are the light that comes just as I set out on my barge, to drift into the universe. You are my light, just as you were before.”

Oh no.

She’d heard from Gudako about mistaken identity before.

“My name is Hakuno.”

“A very beautiful name. It reminds me of the morning light.”

Better.

Problem solved.

“Let me show you to your-“

He took her hand in his own again, kissing it softly. He rubbed his face to hers, pressing his lips to her neck.

“…room.”

She was going to show him to his room.

It took a minute, a clearing of her throat. Still, she managed to get him to one of the rooms, settling on the bed and motioning around.

“This will be your room.”

“It will need some things, but it will do. Thank you, Aya.”

“Okay, what does Aya mean?”

The man blinked, “You don’t know?”

She shook her head.

The man never explained. Instead, he had come to her side and settled against her. His eyes closed, his head went to her lap.

She found herself stroking his hair as he fell asleep instead.

When she left him, she would need to do some research.

A knock came. The door opened.

“Hakuno, I heard that there is a new servant-“

He paused.

“Gil, do you-“

“Hakuno, get away from him.”

The man on her lap stirred a bit, eyes opening. Hakuno could feel him nuzzle against her a little more, that gentle personality he had shown after leaving the summoning room was back. 

“King Gilgamesh,” he greeted, finally noting the king’s presence after a moment.

“Shamash.”

“I found my wife, Aya. You should inform the gods on my behalf that I shall be remaining with her from here on out. She is my sunlight, after all.”

[theoceanslibrarian]

Platonic touch: #46

Platonic Touch || @blackleg5932 AND @pxrtgasdace

46. Painting mine’s nails

Aya was sitting at a table, currently working on painting her nails, when Sanji came in. She smiled at him, greeted him, then tried to get back to work, her tongue sticking slightly out as she focused on painting the little nails on her hands.

She was surprised when Sanji sat down across from her and offered to help. “I... um, sure? I mean, if you want?” She was surprised by the offer, but slid the bottle of paint over to him regardless. And, as it turns out, Sanji was quite good at painting nails. “Where’d you learn to do this?” She couldn’t help but ask - had he helped his female crewmates with this before?

Before he could answer, though, Ace walked in and saw the pair, Sanji holding Aya’s hand, the paint brush held above her little finger. “...What’s going on here?”

....

And somehow Aya ended up with Ace “helping” on her other hand. He wasn’t nearly as good, but it was endearing to watch him try.

Bless these silly pirates.

“Hey, um, Ace - we can do yours next~” Aya said, teasing. She was surprised, then, when he liked the idea and told her to find him a red color if she had one.

The librarian couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay! It’ll, um, it’ll be like a sleep over!” Maybe she could convince Sanji to let her do his nails, too!

In all her life, Aya never thought she’d be having a slumber party, painting nails, with wanted pirates. Life sure had taken a strange, but happy, turn.

[tentaclepriest]

returning to the shore

The Argent Crusade had loaned them all hippogryphs. Rythien stepped off his and nearly fell flat on his face, swearing viciously enough that a nearby gnome winced. The Broken Shore lived up to its name; the ground was patchy and uneven, full of irregular slabs of ancient masonry which would have been easily traversable to a man with two good legs.

Rythien wasn’t that man any longer. As he hissed and rubbed his back, hastily dismissing the shadow tentacles that had hauled him upright, he spared a fleeting note of thanks that at the very least he did most of his fighting from horseback. This time, I’ll be smarter about it. I won’t let that happen again; I can’t believe I was that fucking stupid the first time.

(It had been an accident, but—he remembered the fall, the wrenching tear, the pain, how he would have died anyway if Bill hadn’t picked him back up. Never again. He’d never get injured by something so stupid again.)

“—You okay, babe?”

He made himself smile at his husband, but he could tell it was a poor effort. “Yeah, I’m fine. Can you give Seth a call, let him know we’re on the Shore and haven’t died yet? I’m gonna see if the Crusaders are here, I think I see Reginald’s armor.”

“Sure.” As Bill rummaged in his saddlebags for the spare communication crystal, he added, “And take your cane.”

Cane in hand, he picked his way down to the camp below. There’d been an effort to keep the streets free of obstacles, but there were so many soldiers and adventurers making Deliverance Point their new home that he was still forced to whack a few shins that got in his way. He used Reginald’s armor as a signpost; the Forsaken crusader was addressing his troops from horseback, for once raising him above the crowd. Despite what it signified—the Crusade wasn’t wasting a shred of time avenging their fallen, and soon he’d probably be joining the fray by their side—Rythien couldn’t help but feel a little relieved at the sight.

The Light is with us. We will not falter. Not again. Reginald’s speech seemed to be over; Rythien raised his voice over the chatter of passing soldiers to call out to him. “Hey! Glad to see you made it here alright.”

Reginald half-turned in his saddle, raising his helm and an eyebrow. “Was that a concern?”

He couldn’t help but roll his eyes as he approached, scratching behind Demosthenes’ ears when the gelding lowered his head to investigate his pockets. “You gotta admit, some of the stuff we heard over the comm was a little worrisome. Just a bit—no, horse, I do not carry sugar cubes. Stop that.”

Reginald sighed. “It was only regular combat, the sort we are trained for. Tanryn just tends to forget to turn her communicator off.” He paused. “As do you, though Aya does wish me to extend her thanks for the impromptu sermon.”

He felt heat crawl up his ears, and rubbed them awkwardly. “Right. That was an accident, but in my defense Anchorite Gesslar did ask how we do things in Silvermoon.” He scanned the crowd for Argent tabards. “Where are Aya and Tanryn, anyway?”

“Aya is…” He paused. “Dealing with the other healers.”

“…That bad, huh?”

Reginald winced. “Last I saw, there were three priests, a monk, and two druids—and her—having a quite spirited debate on the proper treatments of fel toxins. I left them to it. As for Tanryn, I’m…actually, now that you mention it, I am not entirely sure where she went off to. I would check the outskirts of the camp, she seemed to be in a…mood.”

He nodded. I can’t blame her. Not after the first assault. “Gotcha.” A flash of white behind Reginald caught his eye, and he cleared his throat. “Uh, Reg? I think your troops are about to charge off without you.”

“Blast!” Reginald turned and nudged Demosthenes into a trot, calling back over his shoulder, “We’ll be in touch!”

“Yeah—“ Before he could add a blessing—walk in the Light or Light be with you or any of the words you said before a potential battle—Reginald was gone in the crowd, and Ryth sighed at the space where he’d been. I should see if I can find Tanryn. Check up on her. After all, that was what you did for a friend, and he liked to think, after facing the Nighthold together, that he and Tanryn were finally something like friends—even if she did complain, loudly and at length, whenever he used shadow magic too close to her, she had never actually punched him for it. And he was pretty sure she’d finally forgiven him for taking possession of a saint’s holy relic for a family heirloom.

Now, if I were Tanryn, where would I be? His steps carried him away from the crowd, past a contingent of death knights (none of whom were bearing scorch marks, so he guessed Tanryn wasn’t among them), around a gaggle of arguing Illidari, and down a packed-earth ramp leading to the shoreline. For the moment he was alone, and took the opportunity for a deep breath. It was easier to center himself here, easier to think.

And easier to hear the faint sounds of someone trying very hard not to cry, followed by the thud of a gauntleted fist on stone. When he focused, he could feel the Light around her wavering in a way he recognized as an impending outburst. He winced, knocking his cane against the cliff face as he approached the source. Better to give her time to compose herself.

“Tanryn?”

She’d curled herself between a boulder and the cliff rearing up on their left; when she looked up, wiping her face on her cloak, her eyes were red. “Th’fuck do you want?”

There was space for him to sit down next to her if he squeezed in and didn’t mind plate jabbing him in the ribs. He didn’t, so after a moment’s internal debate he took a seat in the dust. “Nothing, I just like knowing where the portable Sunwells are.”

“Pft.” She reached over, knuckling his shoulder. “I’m not that glowy.”

He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Bullshit you’re not, you’re like a little lightning bug—ow!”

While he rubbed his shoulder, she glared at him. “Lightning bug? You shut your face.”

Mood successfully averted…for now. He shrugged, glancing away. “It’s…strange, isn’t it? Being back here.”

She took a slow breath, gaze focused on her boots. “…Yeah. It won’t—be like the last time, I—”

The hiccup in her voice filled him with dread; to his horror, he looked up in time to see tears leak out of the corner of her eyes. He reacted without thinking, one arm wrapping around her shoulders to pull her into a firm hug. “Damn right it won’t be. Now we’re prepared; now we know what we face, and we’re going to bring the full fury of the Light down on the Legion. They don’t have a chance. They’ll be nothing but ashes on the wind, and our comrades will be avenged.” He sucked in a breath; she was sniffling angrily into his chest and it filled him with reflected rage. “We have Velen. We have the Illidari, we have the full force of every adventurer ever to lift their weapons for Azeroth. And we’ve got you, and the rest of the Crusade. We will make the Legion bleed.”

She pulled away, rubbing her face with the back of her hand. To his deep relief, she didn’t seem about to burst into tears anymore. “When you say it like that, I believe you. They must really go in for oratory at the Silvermoon seminaries.”

He cracked a smile, heaving himself upright with his cane for balance. Shadows would have been easier, but not with Tanryn so near. “You people in Stormwind had it easy, lemme tell you. C’mon, let’s get going, I think you might be needed by the healers before it comes to blows.”

She was much more graceful, rolling smoothly to her feet and sighing as she gazed up the ramp. “Great. Okay, work will help.” She paused, turning to look up at him. “And if you tell anyone you caught me going all sniffly, I will fucking smite your dick off.”

“Hey, rude!...but also, fair.” He patted her pauldron. “I was the same way after I got home from the Shore the first time. The first time my leg buckled I wanted to cry and then murder something, you know that feeling. Drink plenty of water, it helps with the post-crying headaches.”

“…Thanks.” She smiled, faint and watery. “You make a good priest, you know.”

He blinked after her as she trotted ahead of him. “…I try?”

Huh, he thought, I guess it’s working.